SCIENCE

Do Cats Understand Their Own Name?

Cats are undeniably smart, but do they have an understanding of their own identity? Researchers in Tokyo may have found the answer.

An artist's rendering of a growing supermassive black hole

We Could Be Just Days Away From Seeing the First-Ever Photo of a Black Hole

Capturing an image of the distant, supermassive black hole in the center of our galaxy has been compared to “standing in New York and counting the individual dimples on a golf ball in Los Angeles."

What to Know About Hedwig Kohn, the Subject of Today's Google Doodle

Hedwig Kohn, who would have celebrated her 132nd birthday on April 5, was a pioneering physicist who became one of the first women certified to teach physics at a German university.

Honey Bees Create a Natural Glue From Spit and Flower Oil to Help Them Carry 'Pollen Pellets' Back to Their Hive

Bees are pretty smart. They can recognize human faces, understand the concept of zero, and even create their own glue, making it easier to carry pollen back to their hives.

What Is One Hour Martinizing?

A New York chemist found a way to make dry cleaning safer and faster, so of course he named the process after himself.

Experts Attempted to Explain Reddit’s Most Profound ‘Shower Thoughts’

Are black holes the heaviest object in the universe? What causes that tingling feeling when you slip and almost fall? And why do we have so many shower thoughts, anyway? Experts weigh in.

What Are Skin Tags (And How Do You Get Rid of Them)?

Skin tags look super weird, but they're usually totally benign. Here's where they come from, and how to get rid of them.

NASA Study Subjects Are Getting Paid $18,500 to Stay in Bed for Two Months

NASA and ESA are testing the effectiveness of artificial gravity by paying 24 lucky volunteers to stay in bed all day.

American astronaut Joseph Tanner on a space walk in 2006

NASA Is Canceling Its All-Female Spacewalk Due to Ill-Fitting Spacesuits

Astronauts Christina Koch and Anne McClain were set to make history this week. Now, only one of the women will be participating.

New Study Reveals Why Easter Island's Statues Are Positioned Along the Coast

One of the mysteries of Easter Island's moai statues is why islanders dragged them to the coast. Now, scientists think they may be markers for hidden water sources.

Scientists Built a LEGO 'Electrospinner' to Improve the Texture of Lab-Grown Meat

Scientists are getting closer to creating edible, slaughter-free meat. The only challenge is getting the texture just right. And that's where LEGOs come in.

A Simple Skin Swab Could Soon Identify People at Risk for Parkinson's

No laboratory tests can currently diagnose Parkinson's disease. Now, researchers think certain odor-causing compounds unique to the condition can be identified with a swab.

World’s Oldest Stored Sperm Has Produced Some Healthy Baby Sheep

The semen proved to be remarkably resilient. Even after being frozen in liquid nitrogen for 50 years, it still successfully got 34 sheep pregnant.

5 Scientific Steps That Will Make You a Better Dancer

Dance is an art form, but it also has a foundation in science. Here's what the experts say about learning how to dance and making the most of your moves.

Silly rabbit via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0

15 Positively Reinforcing Facts About B.F. Skinner

B.F. Skinner is responsible for the term "positive reinforcement." He also taught pigeons to play ping pong—for science. Learn more about this pioneering psychologist.

For the First Time Ever, a Woman Has Won the Abel Prize—Math's Version of the Nobel Prize

Karen Uhlenbeck has become the first woman to win the Abel Prize for her achievements in mathematics, capping a long and storied career.

12 Intriguing Facts About the Intestines

We only think about our intestines when we have intestinal pain, or when something else goes wrong. But scientists are finding intriguing links between your gut, brain, and other systems.

This 3D-Printed Sushi is Customized For You Based on the Biological Sample You Send In

The 3D-printed sushi at Sushi Singularity will be custom-built around your biological data. To get it, the restaurant will ask you to mail a saliva, urine, or feces sample before your meal.

8 Surprising Things You Might Be Doing While Asleep

Sleep might help the brain clear out and reorganize information. You might be surprised at what else you're doing while zonked.

10 Facts About Hepatitis

Different types of hepatitis have different causes and treatments. Here's what you should know about hepatitis a, hepatitis b, hepatitis c, and other forms of the disease.

New British Coin Featuring a Black Hole Honors Stephen Hawking

The late theoretical physicist is gone, but not forgotten. A 50-pence coin is the latest tribute to his life and legacy.

NASA astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann at an event in August 2018

First Person on Mars Will Likely be a Woman, Says NASA Boss

The human-led mission isn't expected to happen until at least 2030, but when it does, a woman will likely be the first person to set foot on the Red Planet.

8 Scientific Benefits of Napping

Whether you bow down to the ritual of a mid-afternoon siesta or never stop to snooze, you may think twice about the power of napping after reading about its many benefits.

12 Surprising Effects of Daylight Saving Time

Being tired is an obvious effect of Daylight Saving Time, but others—like longer sentences for those going before a judge on "sleepy Monday"—are less expected.

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