[ weird things ] | science
# science

did asteroids and comets help create our continents?
# science

did asteroids and comets help create our continents?

Asteroids and comet brought our planet water and the chemical precursors for life. But could they have also given rise to our continents and help set plate tectonics in motion?

the world’s insects are going extinct, and they might take us with them
# science

the world’s insects are going extinct, and they might take us with them

You might not care that that some places on Earth are seeing 75% declines in some insects. You really should. When they’re gone completely, so are the ecosystems in which we grow our food.

how junk science can land you on death row
# science

how junk science can land you on death row

Far too much of what passes for forensic science in courtrooms fails to meet basic scientific standards while sending people to jail. And those who could fix this problem are refusing to help us.

did ancient californians accidentally poison themselves with their tupperware?
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did ancient californians accidentally poison themselves with their tupperware?

The ancient inhabitants of the Channel Islands suffered an unexplained and serious decline in health some 5,000 years ago. Scientists are still not sure why.

this is your brain. this is your brain on wealth and power.
# science

this is your brain. this is your brain on wealth and power.

Wealth and power don’t just change how you live and your priorities. They also change how your mind works in disconcerting ways.

how do we clean up the world’s massive plastic waste problem?
# science

how do we clean up the world’s massive plastic waste problem?

Environmental groups have been ringing the alarm about plastic waste filling oceans and landfills for decades, and the general public is finally paying attention. But do we have real solutions to this problem?

why your ancestry test probably isn’t that accurate
# science

why your ancestry test probably isn’t that accurate

Before you get your DNA tested, remember that most of the baseline samples used to process your genome only come from three countries and your reports will feature a lot of asterisks.

how close to a viable warp drive are we?
# science

how close to a viable warp drive are we?

Paradoxically, we’re both closer and farther from zooming across the galaxy than you might think…

can electricity treat criminal behavior?
# science

can electricity treat criminal behavior?

Crime and a lack of impulse control go hand in hand. Now, there may be a way to activate that impulse control with an electric current. But we’ll need to be careful how we use it.

our magnetic north pole is moving a lot faster than we thought, but that’s perfectly normal
# science

our magnetic north pole is moving a lot faster than we thought, but that’s perfectly normal

Tracking the magnetic north pole has been a difficult task over the last few hundred years, and even today, in the age of computers and lasers, it hasn’t gotten any easier as scientists were surprised by its rapid migration towards Asia.

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