The Smell of Space
In an online question and answer session last summer, astronaut Mike Hopkins, who spent six months on the International Space Station, said that “Space has a smell … Once the pressure is equalized and the...
Is Everyone Really a Little Bit Racist?
And what can we do about it? James Comey, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, recently caused a stir when, during a speech at Georgetown University, he quoted one of the main songs in the hit...
The Sensible Approach to Sleep
Quality of sleep plays a pivotal role in determining one’s attitude, efficiency and general cynicism for the next day. Inspired by this single activity that unifies the diverse lifestyles across the globe,...
Honeybee Pheromones
A Cause of or Cure for Colony Collapse Disorder? Honeybees use pheromones, or chemical messengers, to communicate with each other and orchestrate complex but cohesive hive activities. While such chemical...
Opposites (and Equivalents) Attract
An Unexpected Hydrogen Bond Imagine all the things your body does each day. Whether it’s blinking, breathing, stretching or smiling, even the tiniest of tasks requires that your body orchestrate a series of...
Putting the “Pee” in Power
If you think that urination is just an inevitable biological function, think again. Though you likely don’t give pee any more attention than a flush down the toilet, recent research suggests that urine can...
Too Much Emphasis on Procedures and Pills?
When Secondary Prevention is Harmful The current philosophy in our healthcare system maintains that the best way to keep people healthy is to constantly check if they have signs or symptoms of disease. But...
Contact Lenses
How a Little Piece of Plastic Has Helped 125 Million People to See More than half a millennium ago, Leonardo da Vinci first published Codex of the Eye, which explored the mechanisms of the eye and its ability...
The Terrible Tattoos
Why a Little Bit of Ink is a Whole Lot of Infection In the last few years, hipster subculture has sent today’s youth ringing up secondhand vintage clothing at local thrift shops and vying for the affections...
What Are You Really Paying for When You Buy a Laptop?
When looking for a new computer, choosing among the various options can be overwhelming. Should you get the new $1,300 MacBook or perhaps try a $90 Symple PC? And what do all the specs about “2.5GHz...