Clik here to view.
‘Skeletons’ are key to quick object recognition
While the outer shape of an object is key to rapid recognition, the object’s inner “skeleton” may play an even more important role, according to a new study. In the blink of an eye, the human visual...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Color-changing ‘smart skin’ steals tricks from chameleons
A new flexible, color-changing smart skin that reacts to heat and sunlight gets its inspiration from chameleons. A chameleon can alter the color of its skin so it either blends into the background to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Virtual town sheds light on how our brains perceive places
The human brain uses three distinct systems to perceive our environment, according to new research. There’s one system for recognizing a place, another for navigating through that place, and a third...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What’s going on in the minds of thrill seekers?
Thrill seekers and daredevils thrive on the terrifying because of their high-sensation-seeking personalities, according to a new book. The new book, Buzz! Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dog brains process numbers a bit like ours do
Dogs process numerical quantities in a similar brain region as humans do, according to a new study. The results suggest that a common neural mechanism has been deeply conserved across mammalian...
View ArticleClik here to view.
‘Bilingual molecule’ combines two coding languages of life
Researchers have found a way to combine the two main coding languages that underlie all of life into a single “bilingual” molecule. The nucleic acids of DNA encode genetic information, while the amino...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Polymers are the physics secret behind huge soap bubbles
Mixing different molecular sizes of polymers within a solution increases the ability of a thin film to stretch without breaking, according to a new study. The researchers took inspiration from street...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Baby brains are hardwired to see faces within days of birth
A baby’s brain appears hardwired for the specialized tasks of seeing faces and seeing places at as young as six days old, brain scans of newborns reveal. The findings offer the earliest peek yet into...
View ArticleClik here to view.
‘DNA origami’ motor rolls over nano speed record
Scientists have created the fastest, most persistent DNA nano motor yet through a technique known as DNA origami. The work provides a blueprint for how to optimize the design of motors at the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How soap works to keep you healthy
Washing your hands with plain soap and water can destroy the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But how does soap work to keep you healthy? “There are so many unknowns about this pandemic that are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
COVID-19 threatens endangered great apes, too
Primate experts warn that the global human health emergency of COVID-19 also threatens our closest living relatives: endangered great apes. The new commentary raises the alarm that non-human great apes...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Family stories can help kids deal with crisis
In times of great stress, stories, especially family stories, sustain us—and can help children of all ages weather hard times—an expert says. Family reminiscing is especially important, says Robyn...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Compounds in Brazilian berries can ‘disarm’ MRSA
Specific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree pack a punch against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA, researchers report. A new study demonstrates that triterpenoid acids in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Most people don’t clean right, so use these tips
It’s important you know how to buy the right cleaning products and use them correctly during the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfectant expert Bill Wuest warns. Many household cleaners, once ubiquitous and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Beautyberry compound aids antibiotic against MRSA
A compound in the leaves of a common shrub, the American beautyberry, boosts an antibiotic’s activity against antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria, scientists report. Laboratory experiments show that...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Monarchs from east and west fly differently, but still mate
Even though eastern and western monarch butterflies fly differently, they are genetically the same, a new study shows. Each year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate across eastern North America to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
‘Supergene’ variation makes these songbirds more aggro
Differentiation of a single gene changes behavior in a wild songbird, determining whether the white-throated sparrow displays more, or less, aggression, according to a new study. The researchers...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why human-like robots freak real people out
New research digs into why robots repulse people more as their human likeness increases, known as “the uncanny valley.” Androids, or robots with humanlike features, are often more appealing to people...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Luminescent DNA tool makes cell forces visible
A new technique uses tools made of luminescent DNA, lit up like fireflies, to visualize the mechanical forces of cells at the molecular level. Nature Methods has published the work, which chemists at...
View ArticleClik here to view.
To find chronic lead exposure, map out the risk
A more precise screening index could monitor chronic lead exposure, say researchers. Chronic exposure still occurs in some communities that limited screening programs for children’s blood lead levels...
View Article