Aug 29 Scientists can now see what cocaine does to your brain's blood flow By Anna Christiansen Researchers unveiled a breakthrough imaging technique Thursday that show what blood flow in the brain looks like on cocaine. For the first time, researchers have been able to prove “cocaine induced microischemia,” a precursor to stroke that arises when blood… Continue reading
Aug 27 How to land on a comet as it soars through space By Jenny Marder Earlier this month, after a 10-year, 4-billion-mile journey, the Rosetta spacecraft entered orbit around the rubber-duck-shaped Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Now it must land. This is no helicopter landing. Imagine grabbing a mosquito by the wings. Except the mosquito is in New… Continue reading
Aug 27 Growing human tissue for mass-production By Charles Pulliam-Moore By manipulating adult cells harvested from skin, the team has recreated the tissue of vital organs that might otherwise be difficult or dangerous to obtain from test subjects. Using these so-called "organoid chips" in lieu of people might give doctors… Continue reading
Aug 26 Changing glass into metal, with the help of lasers By Justin Scuiletti Scientists at the Vienna University of Technology found a way to turn quartz glass into metal -- if only for a split second. Continue reading
Aug 26 California law orders kill-switch software in smartphones By Charles Pulliam-Moore Starting on July 1, 2015, residents of California will be able to remotely wipe their cell phone data with the push of a button. Continue reading
Aug 25 Human workers report feeling most productive when led by artificial intelligence By Charles Pulliam-Moore Researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab found that teams of human workers were at their happiest and most productive when their tasks were directed by robotic artificial intelligence. Continue reading
Aug 22 As governments invade privacy, tools for encryption grow more popular By Charles Pulliam-Moore In the wake of Edward Snowden’s revelations about the NSA collecting massive amounts of user meta-data, many people went in search of safer, more secure ways to use the internet anonymously. Once thought to be something only used by the… Continue reading
Aug 21 California honey production crippled by drought By Anna Christiansen An exceptional cut in rainfall has adversely affected honey production in the Golden State. The drought, now in its third year, has ravaged flowering plants thereby reducing the number of spots available for bees to collect nectar. Continue reading
Aug 20 Watch Why in 'remote, cold corners' of the world, melting ground is giving way By PBS News Hour When holes opened up in the earth recently in Siberia, a wave of speculation was set off as to their cause. Scientists are now pinpointing a dramatic increase in arctic thawing, which may have released methane once trapped below the… Continue watching
Aug 20 City living makes spiders grow larger By Justin Scuiletti It turns out that spiders love city life, especially rich cities. According to a study published Wednesday by journal PLOS ONE, certain species of spiders thrive when urbanization occurs, as opposed to areas with larger vegetation. Continue reading