July 19, 2024
A bitcoin mine’s cooling fans are so loud they rattle windows. Residents of Granbury, Texas, are experiencing symptoms of noise pollution. Plus, a weather expert decodes the lingo from the new movie “Twisters”—and real-life tornado trends. And, an FDA panel rejects MDMA therapy for PTSD, raising concerns about the study’s methods and failure to address previous instances of research misconduct.
Awareness in a Damaged Brain
While people in a vegetative state appear physically unresponsive, a new study reveals that some might be aware to a degree.
Snotty Plots: How Do You Graph A Sneeze?
Simulate a sneeze with paint, then graphically determine where most of it lands.
11:47
The First Touchdown On A Comet
The European Space Agency’s Philae lander is the first probe to touch down on a comet.
17:27
Lacking Funding, Some Scientists Turn to the Crowd
Scientists frustrated by a lack of research dollars are turning to crowdfunding.
16:53
Horns, Claws, and Teeth: The Animal Weapons Arms Race
Doug Emlen, author of “Animal Weapons,” unpacks the evolutionary arms race that pushes horns, claws, teeth and other animal defenses to the extreme.
18:13
Here Kitty, Kitty: The Genetics of Tame Animals
Researchers discuss the possible genetic underpinnings that make certain cats and rats tame.
10:41
Mining Wikipedia Data to Track Disease
By analyzing access to specific health-related pages on Wikipedia, researchers may be able to identify—or even forecast—potential disease outbreaks.
17:06
‘New Environmentalism’ Moves Beyond Pollution and Climate Change
Gus Speth, a longtime Washington insider, says it’s time to consider consumerism, economic instability, and a functional democracy as core environmental issues.
How to Build a Dinosaur
The puppets in the live stage production “Walking With Dinosaurs” evoke a convincing “dino-ness.”
Where Do We Go From Here? Environmentalism, at a Crossroads
An excerpt from James Gustave Speth’s memoir “Angels by the River.”
From Antlers to Tusks: Our Obsession With Extreme Animal Weapons
An excerpt from “Animal Weapons.”
I’m Not a Dinosaur, I Just Play One on Stage
A behind-the-scenes look at how the cast and crew of “Walking with Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular” brings life-size dinosaurs to life in an theatrical setting.
Interns at National Labs Do Real Science
Brookhaven National Laboratory provides a glimpse into the culture of the U.S. Department of Energy’s summer undergraduate laboratory internship program.
12:08
U.S. High-Speed Internet Lags Behind on Price, Cost
For less than $40 a month, residents of Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bucharest, and Paris can enjoy lightning-fast Internet download and upload speeds of 1,000 Mbps.
22:17
Apple Science, From American Beauty to Zestar
Between new crosses and old heritage varieties, there’s a world of apples beyond the Red Delicious.
12:08
Piecing Together the Puzzle of Insect Evolution
One hundred researchers studied 144 insect species to fill in the blanks of insects’ evolutionary history.
17:48
Opening Up the Synthetic Biology Toolkit
Synthetic biologist Christopher Voigt and biotechnologist Stephen Streatfield discuss current trends in synthetic biology.
17:17
Spilling Our Guts: Decreased Diversity in the Human Microbiome
How can hospital stays and the evolution from apes to humans change the diversity of our microbiome?
12:40
George Washington Carver: Renaissance Man
Carver was a painter, singer, and piano teacher, taught farmers the virtues of crop rotation, and developed hundreds of recipes for peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans and pecans.