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August 23, 2024
Archaeologists keep finding older and older cave art. Here’s what it could tell us about how humans evolved over time. Plus, a new study measuring microplastics in organs of the recently deceased found that about two dozen brain samples were 0.5% plastic by weight. And, in “Bite,” author Bill Schutt takes readers on a dental adventure spanning half a billion years and much of the animal kingdom.
Steven Strogatz: The Joy Of X
Did you know some infinities are bigger than others? Or that one is equal to .99999999999 repeating? Just a few of the math mysteries in The Joy of X, a new book by Steven Strogatz.
Ig Nobel Prizes Celebrate Somewhat Suspect Science
Ponytail physics, the sloshing in a coffee cup, and an opera about the universe feature in this year’s Ig Nobel Prize ceremony.
A Millipede That (Almost) Lives Up to the Name
No millipede has 1000 feet—but the species Illacme plenipes comes closest, with up to 750.
Searching for ‘The Particle at the End of the Universe’
Physicist Sean Carroll of Caltech talks about the search for the Higgs boson, and what comes next.
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.”