Surprising Science

Dr. Tom Povey is a professor of Engineering Science at Oxford University who designs cooling systems for jet engines. In the early 2000s, inspired by his love of the outdoors, […]

When eating a vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free diet becomes a lifestyle, the medicinal benefits may outpace those offered by strong prescription painkillers.

What if you could set yourself up to have a different memory in the future? Researchers say just post a false event to your social network feed.

For many industries, the next big innovative step is often spurred by achievement from an outside industry. The historical marriage between food preservation technology and nautical advancement is a perfect example.

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaks tonight but astronomers warn that the forthcoming full moon will likely dampen the occasion.

The Science Guy explores the social lessons to be learned from evolution. Paramount is that race, both as a classification for humans and dogs, is not a natural construct.

Genetic disposition and smoking may have little to do with your chances of getting cancer, in some instances. Recent research indicates that two-thirds of the time, the cause of cancer can be blamed on just bad luck.

BMJ blogger Richard Smith makes the bold claim that dying of cancer is the best form of death and certainly preferable to a sudden passing. Do you agree?

A fair and balanced trial you may not get if your lawyer happens to have a deep, masculine voice. Research suggests a court will favor lawyers with gentler-sounding voices.

Here’s a fun thought experiment: What would happen if Earth stopped spinning around the sun? Aatish Bhatia from Wired writes on the repercussions as we finish another revolution.

A once and a lifetime event has come into our field of view. New Year’s celebrators should be able to easily spot Comet Lovejoy skirting past the constellation Orion in the night sky till mid January.

Entering the market for personal health trackers is Cue – an affordable, user friendly mini-lab that allows you to test five important molecules in your body indicating fertility, influenza, testosterone, […]

Many say these are the most dangerous violent times humans have ever faced. Pundits dismiss those fears with numbers that show how these are the Best of Times, Who’s right? It doesn’t really matter. What does is, why are people so worried.

Over society is overworked and therefore overstressed, says PsychCentral’s Michael Hedrick. If you’ve gotten accustomed to overwhelming yourself, you may need to relearn how to tap the brakes.

It may sound uncomfortable, but several self-studies show a little cold will help raise your metabolism and aid in weight loss.

During a recent bout with depression, comedian Ruby Wax took time off from her career to pursue a Master’s degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University.

Yoga may be a good activity to take up if weight-loss is your New Year’s resolution. Recent studies indicate it’s just as good as brisk walking or cycling.

As the 2014 Ebola outbreak begins to wane in West Africa, experts say the region needs to focus on “immunization, infrastructure and investment” in order to stave off the next public health crisis.

Ants have an exploratory instinct to turn left when navigating a new nest or a maze situated in a lab. But what purpose would a directional bias serve?

The OkCupid co-founder has authored a best-selling book that analyzes user data from social media and dating sites to draw conclusions about modern human behavior.

A group of psychologists are trying to give order to the creative process, presenting an “integrative model of creativity that includes personality traits and cognitive processes.”

Time out of the sun and covering up when you’re on the beach is still the best way reduce your risk of skin cancer, but researchers suggest pain relievers may help as well.

Recent research indicates that humans under stress may exert and unnecessary amount of effort in order to get what they want. But they’ll feel no more pleasure from the reward than someone not under strain.

It’s that time of year again: the moment you can change your life for the better. But promising to ourselves that we’ll do something specific in the future is no […]

People want to have their cake and eat it, too. But the truth is even if that cake is full of artificial sweeteners, it’s still not good for you.

If just the thought of spending time with Aunt Gladys makes you want to imbibe a straight quart of Everclear, it may be prudent to prep yourself for the morning after.

Think you’ve had a bad day? Well, consider your bus driver. A recent study shows that jobs where people interact more with the public and have less chance to move around have higher rates of depression.

Driving battery-powered cars could pollute the air more than cars powered by fossil fuels. 

The research linking fast food to obesity is well-known, but new studies show it may be impacting early brain development in children.

How do you go about debating an issue with a conspiracy theorist? Political scientists say facts will end the conversation before it even begins–empathize with them if you want a meaningful discussion.