Surprising Science

Engaging in a firefight, along with other combat stresses, could lead to long-term changes in the connections between the midbrain and prefrontal cortex.

Combat Stress in Afghanistan Could Alter Soldiers’ Long-term Neural Makeup

A new study finds returning combat soldiers perform worse on an attention-draining task and experience long-term changes to their brains

Geoengineering could replicate the cooling effects of a massive volcanic eruption as a tool to reduce climate change.

Is Geoengineering the Answer to Climate Change?

A new study looks directly at the immediate expenses of intentionally cooling our climate, but what are the long-term costs?

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Fake Science: A 100% Fact-Free Alternative

Who needs accurate information when you can simply make it up? A fake scientist explains

An electron scanning micrograph of the molecule-weighing device. When a molecule lands on the bridge-like portion at the center, it vibrates at a frequency that indicates its mass.

New Device Can Measure the Mass of a Single Molecule

Caltech scientists have created an ultra-sensitive device that can weigh an individual molecule for the first time

This stealth tank can change its surface temperature at will, making it invisible to infrared cameras.

Five Ways Science Can Make Something Invisible

Stealth tanks, invisibility cloaks, mirages and other invisible innovations could be closer than you'd think

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Researchers Working on a “Chill Pill” for Sharks

In response to stress, sharks can undergo dangerous changes in blood chemistry, so scientists are attempting to develop a solution

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Why Did the Mayan Civilization Collapse? A New Study Points to Deforestation and Climate Change

A severe drought, exacerbated by widespread logging, appears to have triggered the mysterious Mayan demise

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Playing Music as a Child Leads to Better Listening as an Adult

A new study indicates that musical instruction for just a few years during childhood can have long-lasting benefits

The giant swallowtail, a Southern butterfly, has historically not been found in Massachusetts, but in recent years it has appeared more and more frequently.

New Evidence for Climate Change: Butterflies

The meticulous records of an amateur butterfly club in New England are opening a window into changes happening to the regional climate

An Air Force plane sprays dispersant onto the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon spill. New research could produce safer dispersants that include ingredients found in food.

An Oil Dispersant Made From Ingredients in Peanut Butter, Ice Cream and Chocolate?

New research is yielding oil dispersants that are non-toxic and prevent oil from sticking to birds and wildlife

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These Rainbow-colored Transparent Ants Are What They Eat

Droplets of food coloring and an exotic species of Indian ant made for a stunning set of photographs

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Scientists Make Progress Towards a Male Contraceptive Pill

A new molecule originally developed to fight cancer looks to be a promising compound in the search for a male contraceptive

A new technology harnesses the energy in wastewater to produce electricity.

Could Sewage Be Our Fuel of the Future?

A new way of treating wastewater uses bacteria to produce electricity, potentially solving a pair of environmental problems

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The 5 Coolest Planets Orbiting Distant Stars

Of the hundreds of exoplanets discovered by scientists, we list of some of the most interesting

Some chemicals in antibacterial soap have been banned by the FDA after testing showed they did not provide any benefit over normal soap and water.

Triclosan, a Chemical Formerly Used in Antibacterial Soaps, Was Found to Impair Muscle Function

In a study, the chemical inhibited muscle activity in individual human heart cells, mice and minnows

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Scientists Create Worm-like Robot That Can Inch Along the Ground

The Meshworm uses artificial muscles and peristalsis to creep quietly along the ground

The Mars24 App’s listing of times of various locations on Mars, including the Curiosity and Opportunity Rovers.

How Do You Tell Time on Mars? There’s an App for That

NASA has produced an app that helps scientists and amateurs alike keep track of time on the Red Planet

A new study reveals that the African grey parrot is capable of abstract reasoning.

African Grey Parrots Have the Reasoning Skills of 3-Year-Olds

A new experiment showed that the birds are capable of abstract logical reasoning, a trait previously shown only by primates

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See a Google-Earth-Like View of an Embryo, Down to an Individual Cell

A new technology combines thousands of individual images to create a zoom-able picture of living tissue, down to the cellular level

Hydraulic fracturing for natural gas may increase the risk of earthquake, a new study finds.

‘Fracking’ for Natural Gas Is Linked With Earthquakes

A new study finds a correlation between the underground injection of waste fluids from fracking and dozens of small earthquakes

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