Jan 06 If you get chikungunya this summer, maybe blame El Niño By Nsikan Akpan El Niño has a history of favoring tropical disease in the U.S. With chikungunya and Zika virus knocking on the door, scientists describe what might be in store for the U.S. next year. Continue reading
Jan 04 Think El Niño is weird now? Just wait for this summer By Nsikan Akpan Scientists predict what El Niño might mean for the cost of cookies, the quality of marijuana and the arrival of DC's cherry blossoms. Continue reading
Jan 04 4 new elements complete periodic table’s seventh row By Nsikan Akpan Four new elements have been added to the periodic table. One will soon become the first named by Asian researchers. Continue reading
Dec 09 Don’t blame grandma yet, but your asthma may be her fault By Nsikan Akpan Emerging research into epigenetics may rewrite the fates of those dealing with diseases like asthma, schizophrenia and obesity. Continue reading
Nov 25 TVs, radar guns and other technologies linked to Einstein’s theories of relativity By Nsikan Akpan If you’ve ever received a speeding ticket, you can thank Albert Einstein. Continue reading
Nov 16 Bats flip like Tony Hawk to land upside down By Nsikan Akpan A new study uses high-speed video and computer graphics uncover how bats make acrobatic flips and land upside down. Continue reading
Nov 04 The switch that could turn off your nightmares and dreams By Nsikan Akpan A renaissance is happening in the collective understanding of REM -- rapid eye movement -- sleep, which may yield a day when scientists could shut off nightmares and dreams. Continue reading
Oct 12 Can your ‘brain fingerprint’ reveal how smart you are? By Nsikan Akpan Neuroscientists at Yale University discover a way to identify individuals and predict their intelligence levels by using brain fingerprints based on functional MRI scans. Continue reading
Oct 02 What ‘The Martian’ can teach us about the weather on Mars By Nsikan Akpan The Martian author Andy Weir and the NASA director of planetary science discuss the movie, Mars weather and where else people might one day live in our solar system. Continue reading
Sep 21 Could a mushroom save the honeybee? By Ken Christensen, KCTS9/Earthfix In recent years, research has shown that rare fungi found in the old-growth forests of Western Washington can help fight viruses, including tuberculosis, smallpox and bird flu. What if the honeybee would see similar health benefits from wood-rotting mushrooms?… Continue reading