Rachel K Wentz

Chinese Astronauts Hope to Come aboard International Space Station, and End US Ban

In the fifteen years since the International Space Station has been in operation, this multi-nation venture has steadily advanced our understanding of science, from astronomy, to human physiology, to materials science. It represents a global effort in scientific research and includes five participating space agencies, from the U.S., Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada. Noticeably absent is China. The Chinese would like to see that change.

Why Wait for Hurricane Season when you can Make One in the Lab?

Florida is famous for many things: abundant sunshine, beautiful beaches, a surplus of theme parks, and more tourists than you can shake a stick at. But it's also renowned for its hurricanes. Luckily, scientists at the University of Miami no longer have to wait around for hurricane season to study the dynamics of these massive storms, they can now produce them on demand.

The Investigation into whether Johnson & Johnson Knew about their Harmful Uterine Device

Johnson & Johns is under investigation by the FBI for possible prior knowledge about dangers linked to one of their medical devices, the laparoscopic power morcellator, which is supposed to provide a minimally invasive alternative to hysterectomies and removal of fibroid tumors, but in reality, may have been spreading dangerous forms of cancers among its patients.

Another Distraction for Drivers: The Apple Watch

As the movement over texting while driving pushes forward in the U.S., with more and more states adding laws to their books to try to deter this dangerous habit, Canadian police are being hyper vigilant and recently ticketed a man for using his Apple Watch while driving.

Disaster-Mitigating Robots Battle for $2 Million Pentagon Prize

On June 5th, the Pentagon will hold the final round of its Robotics Challenge, where 25 teams from around the world will vie for a $2 million prize to see whose robot can perform best amidst a simulated disaster zone. But there's more at stake than just money. The Pentagon hopes one day such robots might save lives.

Dino Debate Continues – New Analyses Indicate They Were Warm Blooded

In the long debate over whether dinosaurs were warm or cold blooded, a study published last year in Science was thought to have put the issue to rest. Dinosaurs were neither, according to the paper. Instead, they occupied an intermediate category. But a reanalysis of the same data has drawn new conclusions. And the verdict this time? Warm blooded.

Scientists Use 3D Printed Eggs to Study the Art of Deception among Birds

3D printing has already established itself within the scientific community. It's been used to produce tools aboard the International Space Station, replicate body parts for surgical procedures, and now it's found a new niche among biologists studying bird behavior. It turns out, 3D printers produce mighty fine eggs.

Ancient Skull Shows Signs of Lethal Combat

Scientists have discovered what may prove to be the oldest example of intentional violence among humans. In fact, the individual who died of apparent head wounds over 430,000 years ago is not exactly "human," but one of our close cousins, a Neanderthal. And what his skull may prove is that violence predates the rise of modern humans.

A New Species is named following the Discovery of a 3-Million-Year-Old Jaw Fragment

Most of us are familiar with "Lucy," the famous hominid skeleton discovered by Donald Johanson and colleagues back in 1974 along a dried out gully in Ethiopia. Lucy lived over 3 million years ago and was assigned the name Australopithecus afarensis; a species many believe led to the rise of Homo sapiens. But a new discovery may rewrite our origins, for it seems Lucy was not the only type of Australopithecine roaming the African plains so long ago.

Giant Telescope Construction Continues atop Hawaiian Volcano, Despite Protests

The best place to view space is from a locale far from the glaring lights of human habitation. And what better spot than the isolated Hawaiian islands, in the middle of the northern Pacific? Unfortunately, the residents of Hawaii abhor the idea of another telescope marring their sacred mountain. So they have banned together to bid the giant scope a hearty "Aloha!"

See What Tools Made the Cut Aboard the Upcoming Europa Clipper Mission

What would you pack for the 390 million mile trip to Jupiter's icy moon, Europa? Last year, NASA posed that question to a bevy of scientists and after whittling down the final 33 proposals, they have decided on nine items that will rocket aboard the Europa Clipper, which is set to blast off sometime after 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Most Popular

Recommended Stories

Real Time Analytics