What is tear gas?
The chemical weapon, tear gas, was used in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Orlando and several other cities to control crowds…
June 4, 2020
365
Technology
Compare the flu pandemic of 1918 and COVID-19 with caution – the past is not a prediction
Differences in the viruses' biology and societal contexts mean there's no guarantee today's pandemic will mirror…
June 4, 2020
371
COVID-19, smell and taste – how is COVID-19 different from other respiratory diseases?
Many respiratory viruses cause us to temporarily lose our sense of smell. But SARS-CoV-2 isn't like those other viruses.…
June 4, 2020
337
Scientists tap the world's most powerful computers in the race to understand and stop the coronaviru
Scanning through billions of chemicals to find a few potential drugs for treating COVID-19 requires computers that harness…
June 3, 2020
376
Genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in Florida and Texas beginning this summer – silve
Release of GM mosquitoes in Florida is imminent. But a multidisciplinary team of scientists believe that more studies are…
June 3, 2020
335
Physicists hunt for room-temperature superconductors that could revolutionize the world's energy sys
Generating energy usually means wasted heat. Semiconductors let the electrons flow with zero waste – but so far scientists…
June 3, 2020
422
Parasitic worms in your shellfish lead a creepy but popular lifestyle
Mud blister worms make their homes in the shells of oysters and other shellfish, where they weaken their hosts.
June 3, 2020
375
Mobile technology may support kids learning to recognize emotions in photos of faces
Understanding others' emotions is a crucial social skill. Counter to concerns about screen time stunting kids' development,…
June 2, 2020
341
Antibody injections could fight COVID-19 infections – an infectious disease expert explains the pros
Antibodies that recognize and block SARS-CoV-2 infection have the potential to be powerful weapons. An infectious disease…
June 1, 2020
460
Clear masks for caregivers mean young children can keep learning from adults' faces
With caregivers' faces covered, infants and young children will miss out on all the visual cues they'd normally…
June 1, 2020
449
How a new biotech rule will foster distrust with the public and impede progress in science
A new biotech regulation allows companies to self-police and decide which crops should be regulated. The new rule is likely…
June 1, 2020
397
What makes something smell good or bad?
Mmmmmmm. That smells delicious. Wait, how do you know that?
June 1, 2020
387
Robo-umps are coming to Major League Baseball, and the game will never be the same
Computerized systems that automatically determine whether a pitch is a ball or strike promise to make umpiring more accurate,…
June 1, 2020
581
Antigen tests for COVID-19 are fast and easy – and could solve the coronavirus testing problem despi
An antigen test was given emergency use authorization by the FDA in early May. A biochemist explains how COVID-19 antigen…
May 29, 2020
496
What would it feel like to touch a cloud?
You might have already felt what it would be like inside a cloud made of condensed water vapor.
May 28, 2020
484
How Europe's CHEOPS satellite will improve the hunt for exoplanets
The primary objective of CHEOPS is to better understand the planets that we’ve already found. And its mission is now in…
May 27, 2020
384
Half the matter in the universe was missing – we found it hiding in the cosmos
Cosmologists had only been able to find half the matter that should exist in the universe. With the discovery of a new astronomical…
May 27, 2020
374
Ethicists: We need more flexible tools for evaluating gene-edited food
What criteria should be used to determine whether a food is natural? What if gene-editing techniques produce changes indistinguishable…
May 26, 2020
436
The coronavirus pandemic moved life online – a surge in website defacing followed
Vulnerable websites are popping up as organizations move online during the coronavirus pandemic – and hackers have more…
May 26, 2020
385
Pairing lasers with microwaves makes mind-bogglingly accurate electronic clocks – a potential boon f
Researchers have made some of the most accurate clocks imaginable in recent years, but the trick is harnessing those clocks…
May 22, 2020
404