Reading isn’t a natural function of the brain, and it requires explicit instruction to activate different areas responsible for vision, sound, and meaning. Fluent readers possess a complex reading circuit comprised of neural pathways of white matter, allowing them to process words in milliseconds. However, individuals with dyslexia exhibit a different reading circuit. For the […]
Time gets a little strange as you approach the speed of light. ikonacolor/iStock via Getty Images Michael Lam, Rochester Institute of Technology Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]. Why does time change when traveling close to […]
Zipline is an autonomous delivery drone company that not only can silently deliver goods to you, but some of its drones deliver life-saving medications and blood products to remote hospitals around the world. The whole thing works in pretty much any weather because there’s no human steering it. It has no issues flying at night […]
Ants from different colonies will fight based on smell alone. Joseph Howell, Vanderbilt University, CC BY-ND Laurence Zwiebel, Vanderbilt University and Stephen Ferguson, Vanderbilt University Ants can be found in nearly every location on Earth, with rough estimates suggesting there are over 10 quadrillion individuals – that is a 1 followed by 16 zeroes, or […]
The star system V883 Orionis contains a rare star surrounded by a disk of gas, ice and dust. A. Angelich (NRAO/AUI/NSF)/ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), CC BY John Tobin, National Radio Astronomy Observatory Without water, life on Earth could not exist as it does today. Understanding the history of water in the universe is critical to understanding how […]
Harvard professor and “How to Build a Life” columnist Arthur C. Brooks answers the internet’s burning questions about “happiness.” Does anyone else feel depression after completing a goal? Can social media cause depression? Do we get happier as we age? What is the true meaning of happiness? Arthur answers all these questions and much more. […]
Many animals need sleep. But all of the threats and demands animals face don’t just go away when it’s time to doze. That’s why a range of birds, mammals, and even humans experience some degree of asymmetrical sleep, where parts of the brain are asleep and other areas are more active. So, how does it […]
The world’s strongest magnet, located in Tallahassee, Florida, at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, is a million times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field! Watch as Veritasium’s host, Derek Muller, turns into a gleeful child as he conducts various experiments on the magnet while explaining the science behind it. As far as I’m concerned this […]
Over 8,000 satellites are orbiting Earth today, capturing images like this, of the Louisiana coast.NASA Earth Observatory Qiusheng Wu, University of Tennessee If you want to track changes in the Amazon rainforest, see the full expanse of a hurricane or figure out where people need help after a disaster, it’s much easier to do with […]
One mathematical constant describes the population growth rate of a bunch of rabbits.Supalerk Laipawat/EyeEm via Getty Images Manil Suri, University of Maryland, Baltimore County March 14 is celebrated as Pi Day because the date, when written as 3/14, matches the start of the decimal expansion 3.14159… of the most famous mathematical constant. By itself, pi […]