Science

Smartphones, and their apps, have become an extension of us, says commentator Marcelo Gleiser.

Science

Welcome To The Age Of Digital Transcendence

9:40am January 23, 2018

by Marcelo Gleiser

Smartphones have become an extension of the owner; it is the closest we've ever become to being omnipresent and omniscient and — in a metaphorical sense, at least — divine, says Marcelo Gleiser.

A map from the U.S. Tsunami Warning System shows the offshore location of a powerful earthquake that struck overnight, along with the revised tsunami advisory area.

Tsunami Alert Is Downgraded Along Alaska's Coast After Powerful Quake

9:23am January 23, 2018

by Scott Neuman

The magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck about 175 southeast of Kodiak, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning before downgrading to an advisory.

As mother and daughter, Carmen and Gisele Grayson thought their DNA ancestry tests would be very similar. Boy were they surprised.

My Grandmother Was Italian. Why Aren't My Genes Italian?

4:19pm January 22, 2018

by Gisele Grayson

Popular DNA ancestry tests don't always find what people expect. That's due to how DNA rearranges itself when egg meets sperm, and also the quirks of genetic databases.

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The plane of the Milky Way Galaxy, which we see edge-on from our perspective on Earth. The projection used in ESO's GigaGalaxy Zoom project gives the impression of looking at the Milky Way from the outside.

Science

Scientific Theory And The Multiverse Madness

11:43am January 22, 2018

by Sabine Hossenfelder

An increasing number of theoretical physicist think that our universe is only one among infinitely many — but this speculation is not based on sound logic, says guest commentator Sabine Hossenfelder.

Doctors in Miami found that a man's tattoo expressing his end-of-life wishes was more confusing than helpful.

When A Tattoo Means Life Or Death. Literally

4:24pm January 21, 2018

by Rebecca Hersher

A gravely ill man arrives at the hospital, alone and unconscious, with a tattoo across his chest: "Do Not Resuscitate." It sparks deep conversation about end-of-life care in America.

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Blind pursuit of wealth and status is not conducive with happiness and sustainability, says guest commentator Randall Curren.

Living Well Now: What Does It Take?

3:55pm January 21, 2018

by Randall Curren

Shaping our lives around fulfilling social, intellectual and creative potential — keys to happiness — is more compatible with sustainability than pursuing unlimited wealth, says author Randall Curren.

Is it the heat that makes you healthier? Or the chance to chill?

Saunas Are A Hot Trend, And They Might Even Help Your Health

5:30am January 20, 2018

by Katherine Hobson

Sweating in a sauna feels good, and it's associated with health benefits including a lower risk of heart disease. But is that because of the heat, or because you're able to kick back and relax?

A rooftop is covered with solar panels at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York last February. The Trump administration is considering whether to impose tariffs on imports of solar materials.

U.S. Set To Decide In Trade Dispute Threatening Booming Solar Industry

3:17pm January 19, 2018

by Samantha Raphelson

President Trump is facing a Jan. 26 deadline to decide whether to impose tariffs on solar imports. While tariffs could help level the playing field for U.S. manfacturers, they could also raise prices.

A hive of honeybees on display at the beekeeping convention in Vermont in 2014.

Iowa Boys Charged In Connection With Deaths Of Half A Million Honeybees

11:35am January 19, 2018

by Scott Neuman

The unidentified boys, ages 12 and 13, are accused of ransacking a Sioux City honey farm, knocking over hives and exposing the bees to frigid winter temperatures.

Microorganisms play a vital role in growing food and sustaining the planet, but they do it anonymously. Scientists haven't identified most soil microbes, but they are learning which are most common.

Scientists Peek Inside The 'Black Box' Of Soil Microbes To Learn Their Secrets

8:30pm January 18, 2018

by Dan Charles

Microorganisms play a vital role in growing food and sustaining the planet, but they do it anonymously. Scientists haven't identified most soil microbes, but they are learning which are most common.

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