Predicting When They’ll Blow

February 13, 2013
If the world ends, will it be water (again) or fire? When volcanoes erupt, the devastation is short-lived, but violent. Magma creeps up through a crack in the Earth's crust and mixes with water, setting off a series of explosions--as... continued

Don’t Breathe in China

February 13, 2013
(Don't eat the food there, either!) The hazards of breathing outdoor air in some Chinese cities have been well-documented. Now a new study confirms that breathing indoor air also carries significant cancer risks, especially for Chinese women, because of all... continued

Are You Allergic to Your Water?

February 11, 2013
Food allergies are on the rise, affecting 15 million Americans, pesticides and tap water could be partially to blame. High levels of dichlorophenols, a chemical used in pesticides and to chlorinate water, when found in the human body, are associated... continued

Your Back Yard Teeming with Wildlife

February 11, 2013
Suburban yards are now filled with foxes, feral cats, deer, coyotes, rabbits, and other critters than used to live in the woods. This is not only because we've hunted their predators to extinction, but also because we no longer clear-cut... continued

We’re Not Ready

February 11, 2013
The British Royal Academy of Engineering has completed a study of the UK power grid showing that it is relatively well prepared to weather a solar superstorm--but the opposite is true in the United States. It turns out that explosive... continued

Why We Smell Bad When We’re Nervous

February 9, 2013
We understand why we perspire when we're exercising--as our sweat evaporates, it cools off our body. But why do we sweat so much when we're under stress? And this is the really stinky kind of sweat, the kind we apply... continued

The Moon Was Once Magnetic

February 9, 2013
Research on an ancient lunar rock suggests that almost 4 billion years ago, the moon once had a molten, core of liquid metal that generated a strong magnetic field. The Daily Galaxy quotes planetary scientist Benjamin Weiss as saying, "The... continued

Virus in GM Foods Could be Dangerous

February 8, 2013
GM crops such as corn, which are being grown around the world for both human and farm animal consumption, include a virus gene that could be poisonous to humans that has not been tested for safety. A new study by... continued

We Don’t Know Why Some Men are Pedophiles

February 7, 2013
Pedophilia was once thought to stem from psychological influences in early life, but now psychologists think it's a deep-rooted sexual orientation as concrete as heterosexuality or homosexuality, limited almost entirely to men. It becomes clearer during puberty and does not... continued

Spiders Spinning Bulletproof Vests

February 7, 2013
Scientists are trying to figure out what makes the fiber that spiders spin at least five times as strong as piano wire. Spider silk may eventually become a medical miracle that can produce skin grafts for burn victims, helps knit... continued