Corporate Apologies
Dissatisfied customers may respond better to an apology than a cash rebate.
Rising Health Costs
Rising health care costs have slowed the growth of companies that subsidize employees' insurance.
Early Life & Chronic Disease
People who were poor early in life have a biological tendency towards inflammation – which could contribute to chronic diseases.
Computer Composer
A new computer program can generate an infinite amount of original music.
Online Antiquities
Online auction sites have transformed both legal and illegal antiquities markets.
Bad Judgment Roundup
Dumb decisions made by smart investors can lead to crashes in the stock market, and Americans flunk basic science.
To take the California Academy of Sciences science quiz visit: www.calacademy.org.
Podcast
Why smart people sometimes make really dumb decisions, the neural consequences of not paying attention, and our complicated relationship with food.
Eco Plants Roundup
Researchers try a new approach to protecting tropical mangrove forests.
New Energy
A Nobel laureate says the key to solving the energy crisis is to take bold, risky steps and seek diverse solutions.
Frog Legs
Scientists estimate that the global trade in frog legs is worth about 50 million dollars per year.
Podcast
CO2's dangerous overlooked cousin, the origins of the southern hemisphere, why magnetic credit cards don't stick to the fridge and why so many white cats are deaf.
Magnetic Stripe
A listener asks why credit cards with magnetic stripes don't stick to the fridge.
Stock Market Hormones
Testosterone may make stock traders take bigger risks, leading to price bubbles.
Materials Roundup
Researchers test the strength of bamboo as a structural material.
Podcast
Science or Nonsense? Science confronts alternative medicine and vaccine myths. Also: Can we learn anything from violent video games?
Social Brains
A new brain study shows that comparing your own financial situation to someone else's can affect your well-being.
Fuelish Roundup
Low grade, high-sulfur bunker fuel is deadly to wildlife and humans. So why is it still in use?
Bus Schedule Math
Engineers have developed a mathematical algorithm for optimizing bus schedules.
Podcast
Chewing gum that's not sticky. Worms and bacteria team up. Some very hairy genetics. And more.
Non-Stick Chewing Gum
A non-stick chewing gum may eliminate some major cleaning headaches.
Podcast
Whale-inspired windmills. Tracing the origins of a killer asteroid. Using vowels to sell. And more.
Meaningful Vowels
Vowel sounds in product names may imply what kind of product they're best suited for.
Chicken Diet
Special diets are helping curb the environmental impact of chickens.
Opinion Repetition
Hearing one person repeat same opinion is surprisingly influential.