Light & Energy Roundup
Engineers demonstrate a new way to harvest the wasted energy of an incandescent light bulb.
Science Breakthroughs of 2015: Deep Mantle Plumes
Science Breakthroughs of 2015: Seismic imaging reveals the existence of plumes of hot rock reaching deep into Earth’s mantle.
Knuckle Cracking
Cracking your knuckles sets off a tiny “firework explosion” in the joint.
Magnetic Monarch Migration
Monarch butterflies use the Earth’s magnetic field to guide their migration.
Energy from Body Heat
Our bodies produce a surprising amount of heat, which could be turned into electricity.
Cooling from Nature
Engineers are designing more efficient cooling systems inspired by physical processes in nature.
Bright Clouds
Marine microorganisms make clouds brighter and more reflective.
Rescuing Ancient Scrolls
Physicists decipher ancient scrolls that were burned and buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius 2,000 years ago.
High Flying Geese
The world’s champion high-altitude migratory bird uses a unique “roller-coaster” flight strategy to save energy,
Recycled Solar Panels
Engineers are creating highly efficient solar cells from recycled lead-acid car batteries.
Wind Temperature
Moving air feels colder than still air, but what does the thermometer say?
Far-Out Mega Planet
An enormous planet, orbiting a star at a tremendous distance, challenges theories of planet formation.
Metal in Microwaves
If metal isn’t supposed to go in microwave ovens, why do some of them have metal racks?
Glowing Slime
Glowing blue slime from the sea could be useful in biomedical research.
Seal Bombs
Underwater explosions scare sea lions away from commercial fishing operations. But the noise could be impacting whales and dolphins.
Metal in Microwaves
If metal isn't supposed to go in microwave ovens, why do some of them have metal racks?
Evolution of the Fastball
Human anatomy is uniquely evolved to throw spears - and baseballs.
Expanding Under Pressure
Under the right conditions, a material can actually expand and become less dense under pressure.
Aging Color Vision
Our eyes’ ability to detect color deteriorates with age, but our brains compensate.
Podcast for 17 May 2013
VISION SCIENCE - A camera modeled after the compound eyes of insects. How the brain compensates for worsening color vision as we age. And, could electrical simulation to the brain improve math performance? Also: Young people are still flocking to tanning booths, despite the risk of developing life-threatening melanoma.