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Victorian efforts to export animals to new worlds failed, mostly
A murmuration of starlings over West Pier in Brighton England. Lois GoBe/Shutterstock.comIn 1890, a New York bird enthusiast released several dozen starlings in Central Park. No one knows for sure why...
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What is white-nose syndrome in bats?
Dr. Winifred Frick examines a bat for white-nose syndrome.Alan Hicks, CC BY-NDCurious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to...
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Quarantines have tried to keep out disease for thousands of years
Camp beds set up for travelers returning to Germany from China, who will be isolated for two weeks to make sure they don't have coronavirus. YANN SCHREIBER/AFP via Getty ImagesThe recent global spread...
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R0: How scientists quantify the intensity of an outbreak like coronavirus and...
To how many others will one infected person spread the infection?Bim/Getty ImagesIf you saw the 2011 movie “Contagion,” about a worldwide pandemic of a new virus, then you’ve heard the term R0....
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A plasma reactor zaps airborne viruses – and could help slow the spread of...
Researchers Tian Xia and Zijie Lin test a plasma prototype for preventing airborne transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus at a Michigan pig farm.Robert Coelius/Michigan...
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Re-creating live-animal markets in the lab lets researchers see how pathogens...
Places where lots of animals come into contact can help pathogens move from species to species.Baloncici/iStock via Getty Images PlusNobody yet knows for sure the definitive origins of the newly...
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AI could constantly scan the internet for data privacy violations, a quicker,...
You leave bits of your personal data behind online, and companies are happy to trade in them.metamorworks/ iStock/Getty Images PlusYou’re trailing bits of personal data – such as credit card numbers,...
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Why people post 'couple photos' as their social media profile pictures
Two people, one profile pic.Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.comAs you scroll through your Facebook news feed, you see it: Your friend has posted a new profile picture. But instead of a picture of...
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Potential gene therapy to combat cocaine addiction
More than 1 million people in the U.S. are addicted to cocaine.Orawan Pattarawimonchai/Shutterstock.comHave you ever slipped when trying to avoid sugar, quit smoking, or break another habit or...
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Why sequencing the human genome failed to produce big breakthroughs in disease
Early proponents of genome sequencing made misleading predictions about its potential in medicine.Natali_ Mis/Shutterstock.comAn emergency room physician, initially unable to diagnose a disoriented...
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A 4-step maintenance plan to help keep your relationship going strong
There's a little work involved in happily ever after.Désirée Fawn/Unsplash, CC BYEarly on, relationships are easy. Everything is new and exciting. You go on dates, take trips, spend time together and...
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Hackers could shut down satellites – or turn them into weapons
Two CubeSats, part of a constellation built and operated by Planet Labs Inc. to take images of Earth, were launched from the International Space Station on May 17, 2016.NASALast month, SpaceX became...
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How did I get my own unique set of fingerprints?
Even identical twins have different fingerprints.El Greco/Shutterstock.comCurious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to...
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Out-of-context photos are a powerful low-tech form of misinformation
Have some healthy skepticism when you encounter images online.tommaso79/Stock via Getty Images PlusWhen you think of visual misinformation, maybe you think of deepfakes – videos that appear real but...
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Naming the new coronavirus – why taking Wuhan out of the picture matters
The virus that causes COVID-19 seems able to spread to anyone, anywhere.NIAID/Flickr, CC BYStop calling the novel coronavirus outbreak the “Wuhan coronavirus,” and start getting comfortable with...
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'Bee-washing' hurts bees and misleads consumers
Native bumble bees perform 'buzz pollination,' shaking flowers to release protein-rich pollen.A. Westreich, CC BYAmid the worry over the loss of honey bees, a far quieter but just as devastating loss...
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Do I have to wear a jacket when it's cold outside?
It's an age-old battle between parents and kids.Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock.comCurious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to...
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Deep learning AI discovers surprising new antibiotics
A colored electron microscope image of MRSA.NIH - NIAID/flickr, CC BYImagine you’re a fossil hunter. You spend months in the heat of Arizona digging up bones only to find that what you’ve uncovered is...
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People prefer robots to explain themselves – and a brief summary doesn't cut it
A robot and human interactingTommy Ton, tontommy.com, CC BY-NDArtificial intelligence is entering our lives in many ways – on our smartphones, in our homes, in our cars. These systems can help people...
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7 lessons from 'Hidden Figures' NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson's life...
Katherine Johnson spoke at the Oscars about her work depicted in the 2016 film 'Hidden Figures.'AP Photo/Chris PizzelloKatherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who made critical...
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