20 Inventions that Changed Everything
Inventions do not happen in random order. Science and technology advance along a logical line, with one invention leading to another. When plotted along a curve, what becomes clear is the breathtaking pace of technological progress. The innovations have come in rapid succession, each one setting in motion a chain reaction that triggers others. In this […]
Trump’s Overhaul of Endangered Species Act Is Devastating, Say Experts
“We have become great because of the lavish use of our resources.” Teddy Roosevelt, Republican and 26th president of the United States. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration enacted what the New York Times has called “the most sweeping set of changes in decades” to regulations governing America’s Endangered Species Act (ESA). The changes weaken […]
How Mosquitoes Shaped History
In Spanish, the word mosquito means “little gnat,” but there is nothing diminutive about its association with human suffering. There is little doubt that few creatures on the planet evoke as much aversion as the mosquito. Their buzzing presence and their itchy, irritating bites can ruin any afternoon outdoors. There is also the infuriating noise, completely […]
Pesticides Causing Mass Bee Deaths in Brazil, Say Researchers
Bees are dying in alarming numbers in the southern regions of Brazil. Beekeepers in four states there report that some 400 million bees have died over the past three months. Researchers say the main cause of death of the bees is pesticides. They point to two chemicals, in particular: neonicotinoids and fipronil. Aldo Machado, vice president of […]
Can Sudoku, Sex, and Sugar Really Build Better Brains?
The internet is rife with talk about increasing the brain’s intellectual capacities. That’s hardly surprising. After all, who doesn’t need a boost from time to time? Brain-boosting theories are popular because they capture the hopeful fancy that we could be doing infinitely more with our minds… if only we knew how. Many scientists remain skeptical that […]
New Google Feature Promises to Stop Telemarketers for Good
No, it’s not just your imagination. Those blasted unsolicited calls — at best infuriating, at worst criminal — are getting worse. Because smartphones have practically become extensions of our bodies, spam calls and telemarketers can follow us wherever we go. They disrupt meetings, the odd coffee break, and even quality time with the family. Finally, […]
Gut Microbes in Athletes: The Next Big Thing in Sports Doping?
Do you worry about bacteria a little more than the next person? You squeezed out of the womb without a single microbe. But you began to draw entire colonies of bacteria the moment you pushed through your mother’s birth canal. By the time you could crawl, you were living inside a swarm of unseen microorganisms. Our bodies […]
Business is Brisk in the World of Modern-Day Slavery
Vannak Anan Prum has an extraordinary story to tell. He tells it in pictures. At 26, he was desperate to find work in Cambodia, where he lived. His wife was pregnant and he needed money to care for her and their unborn child. There was no work in the village in which they lived. Increasingly desperate, Prum set […]
Helping Your Child to Succeed When They Fail
Regardless of age, failure’s a bitter pill to swallow. We all want to be winners. But it’s an absolute reality that failure is a normal – and necessary, part of life. Kids that are driven to succeed at all costs are usually devastated when they fail at something. That devastation can lead to a loss […]
Eating to Save the World
Worried about global warming and your grandchildren’s future? Would you change your diet to give them a better chance of a life worth living? An international team of scientists has warned that current dietary trends are a threat to human health and the environment. The team has issued a report saying we need a global […]