Using an X-ray-scanning technique, scientists have taken a high-resolution peek inside fossilized embryos of some of the earliest multicellular organisms. The procedure offers paleontologists a nondestructive way to see what’s preserved inside ancient rarities smaller than a pinhead and provides fresh insights into the evolution of life on Earth, the scientists say. Bones and shells [...]
By Robert M Wilson It seems like every semester certain female college students enjoy sitting in the front row of classrooms displaying very exposed cleavages. Professors handle them in different ways. One day, in Astrophysics 201, busty Miss Anderson had already gotten Dr. Geschlecht’s attention by bending down low for her notebook, leaving little to [...]
Hazel Barton’s teammate collects chunks of ice from the cave wall. The sample may contain an ice-dwelling oreanism — like the tardigrade shown above. Hazel Barton awakens to the sound of a thundering crack. She realizes that the morning sun has warmed the ice near her tent, causing it to split. Barton unzips her tent [...]
Many animals have a knack for doing amazing things: They can soar through the air, climb up walls, and swim superfast. Their awesome abilities have inspired scientists to create inventions that copy their every move. Read on to see how scientists look to the wild for some “wild” ideas. KING OF CLING Geckos can climb [...]
Afterschool and community science programs have become widely recognized as important sanctuaries for science learning for low-income urban youth and as offering them with “missing opportunities.” Yet, more needs to be known about how youth, themselves, perceive such opportunities. What motivates youth to seek out such opportunities in the nonschool hours? How do youth describe [...]