Science

Science

Science Looked Good In 2012

12:23pm January 07, 2013

Catfish eating pigeons, water travelling uphill, a blue whale barrel roll — where can one see such things? The scientific journals! Flora Lichtman and Ira Flatow look back on the year's best moments in science cinema. What was your favorite science video of the year?

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Science

Negative Temperatures That Are Hotter Than The Sun

12:23pm January 07, 2013

Scientists have cooled potassium gas to one billionth of a degree below absolute zero. But in the quantum world, that's actually hotter than the Sun. It's hotter, even, than infinity degrees Kelvin. Vladan Vuletić, a quantum physicist at MIT, talks about this 'Bizarro World' temperature.

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You Can't See It, But You'll Be A Different Person In 10 Years

11:06am January 07, 2013

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

People generally fail to appreciate how much their personality and values will change in the years ahead — even though they recognize that they have changed in the past, according to fresh research.

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An analysis of many studies finds a small spare tire may be associated with longer life. But skeptics say that conclusion is rubbish.

Research: A Little Extra Fat May Help You Live Longer

9:09am January 04, 2013

by Allison Aubrey

An analysis from the Centers For Disease Control and Research finds that being overweight, but not obese, is associated with lower risk of death. But no one is suggesting you ditch your exercise or diet goals.

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From left, bird-watchers John Williamson, Donna Quinn, Bruce Hill and Frances Raskin try to spot as many different species as possible during this season's bird count in Loudoun County, Va.

From Canada To Latin America, The Christmas Bird Count Is On

8:46am January 04, 2013

by Veronique LaCapra

Since 1900, citizen scientists across the Americas have braved bad weather and lack of sleep to participate in the yearly count — essentially, a bird-watching marathon. In the process, these birds have created the world's longest-running database in ornithology and given scientists a great tool for assessing the health of bird populations.

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Wind Industry Secures Tax Credit, But Damage May Be Done

6:10pm January 03, 2013

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Uncertainty over the credit had lingered for a while, causing the industry to put off long-term planning. So while the now-approved tax credit revives prospects for an industry facing tens of thousands of layoffs, don't expect to see many new turbines coming up soon.

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'Stand Your Ground' Linked To Increase In Homicides

10:54am January 03, 2013

A controversial self-defense statute appears to produce more killings, according to a new study. Advocates for the law say it's working as designed. But researchers have different explanations about what might be happening.

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Posting a picture like this on the fridge might seem like good motivation for weight loss. But scientists say it might instead inspire weight gain.

Can Skinny Models Undermine Your Dieting Goals?

11:16am January 02, 2013

by Shankar Vedantam

Many people turn to superfit models for weight-loss inspiration. There's growing evidence that this is a mistake. New research from the Netherlands explores whether repeated exposure to images of skinny models helps or hinders dieters.

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The expiration date on foods like orange juice and even milk aren't indicators of when those products will go bad.

Science
Arts

Don't Fear That Expired Food

8:57am January 02, 2013

by Dan Charles

When food passes its sell-by date, it's swept from the supermarket shelf. But that doesn't mean it's not safe to eat. Taste and smell are usually better indicators of a food's safety. And some items, like canned foods, can even last years or decades after their expiration date.

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Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider announced the discovery of the Higgs boson on July 4, the long-sought building block of the universe. This image shows a computer-simulation of data from the collider.

Science

The Year Of The Higgs, And Other Tiny Advances In Science

9:44am January 01, 2013

by Richard Harris

The discovery of the Higgs boson will likely be hailed as the most important scientific discovery of 2012. But many ideas that change the world don't tend to spring from flashy moments of discovery. Our view of nature — and our technology — often evolve from a sequence of more subtle advances.

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