Science

These scientists studied 500+ logos. Here’s what they discovered about good branding

An effective identity probably doesn’t look the way you think it looks.

This AI just passed a science test and may be smarter than an eighth grader

Pinterest is escalating its fight against anti-vaxxers as measles surge in the U.S.

“We’re taking this approach because we believe that showing vaccine misinformation alongside resources from public health experts isn’t responsible.”

There’s a new AI that can guess how you feel just by watching you walk

Are you a happy, sad, or angry walker? Scientists are teaching algorithms to perceive emotions based on gait alone.

Scientists are studying the dust inside homes. Here’s what they’re discovering

You vacuum it, sweep it, and wipe it off your furniture. But do you know what it actually is—and how it may affect your health?

Why we trust our maps even when we shouldn’t

Our unshakeable faith in maps–digital or otherwise–has its roots in the cartographic revolution.

Living machines: MIT’s former president on the next technology revolution

In her new book, “The Age of Living Machines,” Susan Hockfield argues that we have entered a new era of scientific innovation in America.

How we unraveled the mystery of a global spike in an ozone-eating gas

The investigation demonstrates the critical value of atmospheric monitoring networks, but it also highlights a weakness of the current system.

The unique, puzzling antidepressant effects of an illicit party drug

The study of ketamine—and the recent approval of a nasal spray by the FDA—is opening new doors for treating mental illness.

You’re probably being tricked by “health washing” at the grocery store

Here’s how to avoid this sleight-of-hand move by packaging designers.

Put your phone down at the store. It’s costing you money

If you talk or text while shopping for groceries or clothes, chances are good that it’s leading you to spend money that you don’t have.

What really happened after the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded

In “Midnight in Chernobyl,” Adam Higginbotham offers a thorough and readable account of one awful night in Ukraine and its lasting consequences.

This popular kids’ toy doubles as a robot that holds 24,000 times its own mass

Shrinky Dinks are back!

Scientists find “biodegradable” bags perfectly usable after three years in dirt

Uh oh.

A deleted Wikipedia page speaks volumes about its biggest problem

Clarice Phelps may have been the first African-American woman to help discover a chemical element. For Wikipedia, that wasn’t enough.

California is fighting over the future of freedom of information laws

Many people argue that public records laws are essential to democracy. Others say they’re being used by corporate interests to stifle important research.

Israel’s moon lander crashed, but don’t call it a failure

The first privately-funded lunar mission will be remembered as a pioneering achievement that helped to change the way the space industry operates.

Science has found a new use for Skrillex: mosquito repellant

What the “painless woman” says about how anxiety and fear fit into pain

Life without pain might seem like a blessing. But her case–and how we understand what pain really means–is more complex than it first appears.