Surprising Science

In hopes of FDA approval, the Dutch inventor Adriaan Tuiten is currently testing two different pills that work to increase feelings of sexual desire in women. In early trials, they are working.

New data on age and well-being suggests, despite conflicting conclusions reached by past studies, that happiness does generally increase as we get older.

Using a non-invasive infrared laser, scientists have found a way to control the growth of neurons and neuron circuits, essentially learning to rewire the brain, or even create a new one.

Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University hope to begin testing an HIV vaccine on humans in just a few years, thanks to an innovative approach which helps the body’s immune system target the evasive virus.

Only recently did Michael Pollan, the country’s most popular food writer, become comfortable in the kitchen. Now he has written a new book about the importance of cooking and family eating.

“Star Trek” reference aside: Some universities are adding a fifth year to their undergraduate engineering curriculum in order to give students time to catch up on core skills. It’s a concept athletics departments call “redshirting.”

Two University of California-Davis graduate students have created a textile that uses microfluidic technology to direct liquid completely away from itself, which could result in extra-sweaty equipment.

To kids and adults who fear injections, Buzzy looks like a plastic toy. However, when applied to the skin, its vibrating motor and ice pack block the pain of the needle.

That’s the most optimistic date presented by the US military, assuming current research continues. Earlier this month, an Air Force experimental aircraft hit a top speed of Mach 5.1.

We may soon find out: NASA just gave Systems & Materials Research Corporation a six-month, $125,000 grant to develop a working prototype of a food synthesizer.

Silicon trunks and titanium oxide branches mimic the process of photosynthesis by converting sunlight into hydrogen and oxygen, both of which can then be used to power fuel cells.

When both fresh and salty water sources are considered, the US could grow enough algae for up to 25 billion gallons’ worth of biofuel, enough to cover one month of the country’s yearly fuel needs.

Scientists at USC believe “Ellie,” a combination of sensors and software, could possibly revolutionize talk therapy by giving human therapists information on patient biometrics.

A partnership between Google and NASA has resulted in the purchase of a quantum computer which both organizations expect to aid in the development of artificial intelligence, specifically machine learning.

People who live one standard deviation above the green space mean experience a decrease in mental distress that is about one-third as large as the difference between being single and being married.

A team of scientists from Oxford University have shown that zapping the brain with electrical impulses improves its ability to complete mathematical problems in the short and long term.

Computer scientists and artificial intelligence experts say that a project to create digital roundworms represents an essential stepping stone toward the fusion of life and non-life.

“I believe the children are our future.”  Never has a more brazen tautology graced the opening line of a Top 40 song. But when Whitney Houston popularized these words in […]

Biologists at Princeton and Johns Hopkins universities have created an artificial human ear—using a three-dimensional printer, no less—that detects sound better than natural human ears.

Without a stable set of fulfilling social relationships, psychologists say we are given to mainlining sugar and fat to stimulate pleasure centers in the brain. Practicing random acts of kindness is one remedy.

Marine biology professor David Smith and his students spent a total of 15 hours participating in lectures held 18 meters below the surface of the ocean. Sophisticated audio technology allowed them to interact with each other.

Currently, the technology known as “Active Denial” only operates from a large truck, but a report indicates that Raytheon is developing a version that police officers can use to disperse crowds.

In tests done on mice, the hydrogel effectively disguised the implant and tricked the body into thinking it wasn’t even there.

First detected last month by the South Pole IceCube neutrino observatory, the discovery is expected to open the door to an entirely new way of looking at the universe.

Certain forms of nitrogen contribute to a host of health and environmental problems. A new tool helps individuals see how their lifestyle choices fit into the larger sustainability picture.

Researchers say that the snow line of the world’s tallest mountain has retreated by nearly 600 feet in the last 50 years. It’s the latest data available in the controversial discussion about the melting of Himalayan glaciers.

Researchers at Arizona State University want help with gathering and editing information about each of the estimated 30,000 power plants operating worldwide.

When people participate in market transactions, their moral standards fall substantially, supporting behavior they claim to oppose, such as child labor or meat production involving cruelty to animals.

I’ve always been fond of Mother’s Day. During my childhood the holiday was all about champagne cake, frisbee and family picnics among cherry blossoms. These days it’s about raucous family […]

The American Cardiovascular Association, the nation’s largest heart health organization, recently told Americans that owning a dog will likely decrease their risk of contracting heart disease.