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Behold--the Best Space Images of 2023

Fri, 2023-12-29 06:45

This year’s most interesting space images include infrared views of galactic “bones,” an asteroid’s double moon, Jupiter’s giant polar vortex, and more

Sometimes We Can Have Nice Things: Our 10 Favorite Feel-Good Stories of 2023

Thu, 2023-12-28 10:00

Here’s the best, most inspiring and coolest science we encountered this year

2023's Mind-Bending Revelations in the Brain Sciences

Thu, 2023-12-28 08:30

This year the explosion of interest in AI had a profound impact on how experts in the fields of neuroscience and psychology think about biological intelligence and learning

Zapping the Vagus Nerve Could Relieve Some Long COVID Symptoms

Thu, 2023-12-28 06:45

Ongoing research shows electrical vagus nerve stimulators could relieve some long COVID symptoms. But are the expensive devices worth the price?

Extreme Weather Has Long-Term Health Consequences

Wed, 2023-12-27 07:30

Authorities must take proactive measures to mitigate the damaging effects of extreme weather and climate events on long-term health

The Most Important Climate Stories of 2023 Aren't All Bad News

Wed, 2023-12-27 06:45

In 2023 climate news was a mixed bag: we saw unrelenting heat but also glimmers of hope of progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions

A Hunt for Sterile Neutrinos Could Unlock Deep Cosmic Secrets

Tue, 2023-12-26 07:30

The Short-Baseline Neutrino Program will try to determine once and for all whether sterile neutrinos are real

7 Weird Animal Behaviors That Amazed Us in 2023

Tue, 2023-12-26 06:45

From fish that dance to “see” to frogs disguised as poop to boat-attacking killer whales, Scientific American rounds up our favorite odd animals of 2023

Why Does Fruitcake Last So Long?

Mon, 2023-12-25 07:30

The holiday fruitcake is a timeless dessert—literally

Reindeer Chew Their Food While Napping

Fri, 2023-12-22 11:00

Brain wave studies suggest that when it comes to eating and sleeping, reindeer multitask to survive in the harsh Arctic

You Can Literally Sniff Out Other People's Inner Feelings

Fri, 2023-12-22 08:30

Scents are not only important in our relationship to food and the natural world. They also play a role in how we communicate with people we know

The 6 Most Intriguing Things We Learned about Pet Cats and Dogs This Year

Fri, 2023-12-22 07:30

In 2023 we learned that cats really are choosing to ignore humans and that—despite dogs getting all the glory when it comes to retrieving prowess—cats want to play fetch, too

The Winter Solstice Has a Surprising Secret

Fri, 2023-12-22 07:00

How can the December solstice have the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere but neither the earliest sunset nor the latest sunrise? Earth’s orbital quirks offer answers

Octopuses Are Colorblind. Here's How They See the World

Fri, 2023-12-22 06:45

Cephalopods have developed unique visual systems to deal with their underwater world

Antarctic Octopus Holds Secrets of Prehistoric Ice Loss in Its Genome

Thu, 2023-12-21 14:00

As the climate crisis continues, sooner or later the massive West Antarctic Ice Sheet will collapse. An unassuming octopus just gave scientists an important clue about how quickly that might happen

Sniffing Women's Tears Makes Men Less Aggressive

Thu, 2023-12-21 11:00

For the first time, researchers have used behavioral measures, brain imaging and molecular biology to test how odorless chemicals from human tears affect people

Two Private U.S. Moon Landers Prepare for Historic Launches

Thu, 2023-12-21 10:30

The first vehicles to fly under NASA’s new lunar delivery initiative will aim to be the first commercial spacecraft to land softly on another celestial body

Masking Even Some of the Time This Winter Could Help Prevent Respiratory Infections

Thu, 2023-12-21 10:00

Experts weigh in on how you can navigate social gatherings and travel as respiratory illnesses rise this winter

Online COVID Wastewater Sites Can Help You Stay Safe during the Holidays

Thu, 2023-12-21 09:30

Here’s how to plan COVID-safer holiday get-togethers, using websites that show viral levels in wastewater

Cutting Salt May Lower Blood Pressure as Much as Medication

Thu, 2023-12-21 06:45

A new study confirms the blood pressure-lowering power of a low-sodium diet

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