They’re not just an animal, they’re a material. And that’s got engineers interested. Red imported fire ants (solenopsis invicta) are native to South America and an invasive species in the United States. One of the adaptations that makes them so hardy is that they can build large structures by linking their bodies together. This is […]
Each year in the United States, players of sports and recreational activities receive between 2.5 and 4 million concussions. How dangerous are all those concussions? The answer is complicated and lies in how the brain responds when something strikes it. Clifford Robbins explains the science behind concussions. [TED Ed]
Autism is often very misunderstood. What is it, and what causes it? Learn more about the disorder in this episode of Life Noggin! [Life Noggin]
No Judging: At one point you’ve probably put a finger in your ear and dug out some rather unsightly ear wax, but why does your body produce this yellowy substance in the first place? Find out in this episode of the SciShow! [SciShow]
Astronomers may have detected a moon from outside of our solar system for the first time. Either way, they’ve definitely come up with a terrible pun. The ‘candidate moon’ is formerly known as Kepler-1625b but has been nicknamed a “Nep-moon” because it’s a similar size and mass to Neptune. That would give it a radius […]
Is being gay genetic, and if so, do we all have a gay gene? Now before some of you freak out, and I expect some will indeed, start by watching the video. All of this is backed by science. Further readings and references: –Can epigenetics explain homosexuality puzzle? –The Biological Basis of Human Sexual Orientation: […]
The folks from “In a Nutshell” often release videos that make people feel something that approaches existential dread when watched. In this video, they take a different approach by explaining “optimistic nihilism,” the philosophy behind most of what they create and one of the reason why they think everyone should make everything in their power […]
Furanocoumarins, the evolutionary weapons of certain plants (including limes), can ruin your vacation, or cause caterpillars to curl leaves. Find out why in this episode of SciShow! [SciShow]
https://vimeo.com/204881767 In 1995, scientists pointed the Hubble Telescope at an area of the sky near the Big Dipper. The location was apparently empty, and the whole endeavour was risky – what, if anything, was going to show up? But what came back was nothing short of spectacular: an image of over 1,500 galaxies glimmering in […]
Grab a cup of hot java and relax with this explanatory video… then find out why you can’t relax. [Via: Laughing Squid]