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May 2, 2025
An astronomer explores the cosmos and the limits of what science can test. Plus, how the mysterious properties of pasta—like how it bends, coils, and breaks—have been tested by physicists for decades. And, millions of years ago, iguanas somehow got from North America to Fiji. Scientists think they made the trip on a raft of fallen vegetation.
Looking Back on 2012 Election Technology
Despite a national push to electronic voting, why did it take days to tally the vote in some states?
Desktop Diaries: Temple Grandin
“I’m pure geek, pure logic,” says Grandin, an animal scientist at Colorado State University.
The Double Helix and Beyond: Catching Up With James Watson
Nearly 60 years later, James Watson reflects on the legendary race to solve the structure of DNA.
Are We Getting Dumber? Maybe, New Research Suggests
A provocative new study suggests humans are slowly becoming less intelligent and emotionally stable.
Climate Change Takes Flight in New Novel
An ecological anomaly is at the center of the story in Barbara Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior.”
Hurricane Sandy Claims Thousands of NYU Lab Mice
Thousands of mice at one of New York University’s research facilities were lost due to flooding.
Scientists Solve Mystery of Earth’s Shifting Poles
A look beneath Earth’s surface at what may be causing the planet’s poles to wander back and forth.
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Oliver Sacks: ‘Hallucinations’
In his latest book, neurologist Oliver Sacks explores the strange world of hallucinations, and documents his own experiments with psychedelic drugs.
With Budget Cuts Looming, Is Science a Lame Duck?
If Congress fails to act, some $15 billion will be cut from science funding in January 2013.