Can math predict what you’ll do next?
Predicting human behavior is big business. But science may never be able to do so with perfect certainty.
December 15, 2017
740
Technology
With FCC's net neutrality ruling, the US could lose its lead in online consumer protection
As the U.S. weakens its protections for internet users, it risks falling behind the rest of the world, which is embracing…
December 14, 2017
819
Designer proteins that package genetic material could help deliver gene therapy
One big challenge for gene therapies is delivering DNA or RNA safely to cells inside patients' bodies. New nanoparticles…
December 13, 2017
672
An anthropologist explains why we love holiday rituals and traditions
Holiday traditions – whether culinary, religious, decorative or musical – help families bond and individuals feel stable…
December 12, 2017
648
Following the developing Iranian cyberthreat
Iranian cyberthreats come from independent hacker groups and from those suspected of having government ties. Their efforts…
December 11, 2017
725
AIM brought instant messaging to the masses, teaching skills for modern communication
As it closes down 20 years after launching, a look back at the key role AOL Instant Messenger played in preparing people…
December 11, 2017
671
How to put data to work in your neighborhood
Many cities lack the resources to analyze their own vast troves of administrative data.
December 10, 2017
626
For baby's brain to benefit, read the right books at the right time
Psychology researchers bring infants into the lab to learn more about how shared book reading influences brain and behavioral…
December 9, 2017
680
Will artificial intelligence become conscious?
Researchers' views depend in part on what technology is (or will be) capable of – and in part on what consciousness…
December 7, 2017
694
DNA has gone digital – what could possibly go wrong?
Biologists' growing reliance on computers advances the field – but comes with new risks. The first step toward improved…
December 7, 2017
673
What better forensic science can reveal about the JFK assassination
Applying actual science to forensic investigations can yield substantially different results from the findings of standard…
December 7, 2017
625
A new collaborative approach to investigate what happens in the brain when it makes a decision
A new initiative called the International Brain Laboratory is tackling this fundamental mystery of neuroscience in an unusual…
December 4, 2017
657
Taking a second look at the learn-to-code craze
Past efforts to teach American students computer skills haven't always helped workers get better-paying jobs. But spending…
December 4, 2017
1260
Teaching machines to teach themselves
For future machines to be as smart as we are, they'll need to be able to learn like we do.
December 1, 2017
755
Why Silicon Valley wants you to text and drive
Why do tech companies care so much about self-driving cars? If drivers no longer need to pay attention to the road, they…
November 30, 2017
781
Atomic age began 75 years ago with the first controlled nuclear chain reaction
By figuring out fission, physicists were able to split uranium atoms and release massive amounts of energy. This Manhattan…
November 30, 2017
740
An armed robber's Supreme Court case could affect all Americans' digital privacy for decades to come
Should police be able to use cellphone records to track suspects – and law-abiding citizens?
November 28, 2017
799
Each volcano has unique warning signs that eruption is imminent
How do scientists predict volcanic eruptions? To do so with accuracy, they need to know the individual volcano and its history…
November 28, 2017
650
Redefining 'safety' for self-driving cars
If autonomous vehicles are going to be safer than human drivers, they'll need to improve their ability to perceive and…
November 28, 2017
689
Studying circadian rhythms in plants and their pathogens might lead to precision medicine for people
Precisely calibrated timekeepers are found in organisms from all domains of life. Biologists are studying how they influence…
November 26, 2017
640