Can Your Genes Predict When You Will Die?
New research suggests we can defy genetic destiny
Photos of the World’s Oldest Living Things
Among the organisms documented by photographer Rachel Sussman are 80,000-year-old aspen trees and 600,000-year-old bacteria
How Will the Wetlands Respond to Climate Change?
Smithsonian scientists have taken to the Chesapeake Bay to investigate how marshlands react to the shifting environment
What Is the Anthropocene and Are We in It?
Efforts to label the human epoch have ignited a scientific debate between geologists and environmentalists
Does Deep Space Travel Cause Alzheimer’s?
A new study indicates that the levels of radiation astronauts would experience over the course of a deep space mission could lead to dementia
5 Science Stories to Watch in 2013
The new year could feature discoveries of life within subglacial Antarctic lakes, the brightest comet in generations and more
A 24-Hour Movie That May Be the Biggest (and Best) Supercut Ever
Christian Marclay’s The Clock, now on view at MoMA, puts YouTube mashup artists to shame
Why Do We Blink So Frequently?
New research indicates that the brain enters a momentary state of wakeful rest when we blink, perhaps allowing us to focus better afterward
Marijuana Isn’t a Pain Killer—It’s a Pain Distracter
A new study finds that under the influence of marijuana, the same levels of pain are simply less bothersome
The Sustainable Meat of the Future: Mealworms?
Mealworms might seem unpalatable to many, but a new study indicates that they might be the climate-friendly protein alternative of the future
The Scientific Reason Why Reindeer Have Red Noses
Some reindeer really do have red noses, a result of densely packed blood vessels near the skin's surface
Climate Change Tipping Point: Research Shows That Emission Reductions Must Occur by 2020
A new report indicates that we have roughly 8 years to cut fossil fuel use without risking catastrophic levels of warming
Mythical Particles, Goldilocks Planets and More: Top 5 Surprising Scientific Milestones of 2012
From the Higgs Boson to the Curiosity rover, 2012 was a major year for science
The Persistence of Memory in Mice
A new study shows that female mice who smell pheromones in potential mates' urine will constantly return to the site of exposure even weeks later
New Discovery of 7000-Year-Old Cheese Puts Your Trader Joe’s Aged Gouda to Shame
Previously traced to ancient Egypt, prehistoric pottery indicates that cheese was invented thousands of years earlier
Could Porcupine Quills Help Us Design the Next Hypodermic Needle?
Microscopic barbs allow porcupine quills to slice into flesh easily and stay there stubbornly—qualities that could prove useful in medical applications
Quirky Holiday Gift Ideas for Science Nerds
A roundup of unique (if impractical) science gifts, from glass anatomical models to retro adding machines
Smithsonian Secretary Clough Connects the Dots on Climate Change
Clough says that the institution must pair its cutting-edge research with more effective communication of climate science to the public
Cavemen Were Much Better At Illustrating Animals Than Artists Today
A new study finds that prehistoric humans correctly depicted the gait of four-legged animals much more frequently than modern artists
Sick of Fluorescents? New Technology Provides Flicker-Free Light
A new advance in lighting could soon bring a silent, consistent glow that's easy on the eyes to an office near you
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