Research Blogging
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Wild Animal Sex
January 26, 2011
New research in birds, reptiles, and insects is redefining “normal” sexual behavior, revealing that gender-bending, promiscuous, and dangerous sex isn’t limited to humans.
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If it’s Inspiring, Can it Be Wrong?
January 19, 2011
After attending last week’s ScienceOnline conference in North Carolina, Dave Munger asks whether relying on titillating tactics is a boon or bane for promoting science to the public.
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Five Centuries of Influenza
January 12, 2011
Historical records show that flu pandemics have been occurring for at least 500 years. Researchers are now studying these historical pandemics to help prevent future disease.
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The Revenge of Comic Sans
January 06, 2011
New research suggests that less-legible, less-elegant fonts might actually promote better recall of information. Dave Munger examines the evidence.
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The Power of the People
December 22, 2010
Dave Munger test-drives two newly unveiled tools for understanding vast sets of cultural and scientific data.
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Toxic House Cats?
December 15, 2010
Up to half of all humans are infected by a cat-borne parasite that can cause stillbirth, brain damage, and a host of other subtle neurological effects. Is vaccination the solution?
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Death for “Arsenic-Based Life”?
December 07, 2010
A hotly anticipated announcement last week from NASA that scientists had discovered an exotic form of life ended up revealing more about science journalism than astrobiology.
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The Human Animal
December 01, 2010
The special bond that often forms between people and both domesticated and wild animals may be, paradoxically, part of what makes us human.
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Redefining “Mental Illness”
November 17, 2010
As consensus emerges on the physical basis of mental illness, the mental-health community is fracturing over what, exactly, constitutes “mental illness” in the first place.
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Agriculture in the Wild
November 10, 2010
Humans aren’t the only creatures that grow their own food. Leaf-cutter ants, trees, and even protists do it too.
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Good Placebos Gone Bad
November 03, 2010
Placebos are supposed to be inert controls, designed to prove a drug’s efficacy. Consequently, placebo composition is rarely documented in drug trials. Is this dangerous?
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Do Smoking Bans Work?
October 27, 2010
Municipal bans on smoking in restaurants and bars are highly controversial, but history shows they can also be highly effective. But are all smoking bans equally successful?
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What Really Causes Autism?
October 20, 2010
Scientists are finally beginning to make headway understanding the real causes of autism. Yet millions remain unconvinced by the evidence. Why?
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600 Million Years of Jet Lag
October 13, 2010
Although the common ancestor of sea anemones and humans would look nothing like us, it still shares one of our basic traits: the capacity to experience jet lag.
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Fitness for Survival
October 06, 2010
Regular exercise can help us live longer. But what exercises are the most effective, and how much do we need? New research suggests that more is better, and variety is best.
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The Forgotten Domain
September 29, 2010
New research shows the importance of Archaea, one of three domains into which all living things are classified, for understanding all of biology.
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Blogging out of Balance
September 22, 2010
Several independent assessments have reached identical conclusions: In the science blogosphere, men significantly outnumber women. Is this evidence of discrimination?
bias, communication, competition, identity, public perception
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Football’s Confounding Physics
September 16, 2010
Why is it that soccer goalkeepers sometimes have more trouble stopping long-range shots than shots from up close? Physics and the limits of human perception provide the answers.
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What’s Next for the Gulf?
September 08, 2010
Were the chemicals used to disperse the oil from the Deepwater Horizon gusher more dangerous than the oil itself, and what will the spill’s long-term impact be?
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Sniffing Out ET
September 01, 2010
The discovery of potentially habitable planets beyond our solar system is imminent. But no one really knows when we might learn whether any of those distant worlds are inhabited.
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Projectile Pooping
August 25, 2010
When it comes to eliminating wastes, some animals are overachievers. Silver-spotted skipper caterpillars and Adelie penguins both can fling poo to startling lengths. But how, and why?
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Sexy, But Biased
August 18, 2010
When scientists, scholarly reviewers, and the media focus only on the most sensational results of research studies, the resulting distortions can harm scientific progress and the public.
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Tiny Viruses, Big Controversy
August 11, 2010
A recent dispute over the active mechanism for adamantanes, antiviral drugs that combat influenza, sheds light on the difficulties of designing effective antiviral therapies.
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Does Coffee Work?
August 04, 2010
More than any other drug, caffeine makes the modern world go ’round. But how good is it for you, how well does it work, and how much do most users consume? The answers may surprise you.
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Yawning Together
July 28, 2010
Why do we yawn, and why is yawning contagious even across species? Studies are beginning to explain, but the results aren’t yet conclusive.
Now on SEEDMAGAZINE.COM
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Ideas
I Tried Almost Everything Else
John Rinn, snowboarder, skateboarder, and “genomic origamist,” on why we should dumpster-dive in our genomes and the inspiration of a middle-distance runner.
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Ideas
Going, Going, Gone
The second most common element in the universe is increasingly rare on Earth—except, for now, in America.
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Ideas
Earth-like Planets Aren’t Rare
Renowned planetary scientist James Kasting on the odds of finding another Earth-like planet and the power of science fiction.
