Alasdair Wilkins

A soothing voice can change your hormones…but a text message won’t

It’s not always easy to distinguish between human social interactions and the complex chemical interactions that underpin them. Just hearing a calming, familiar voice can alter a person’s hormones in a beneficial way…and technology just gets in the way. That’s the finding of biological anthropologist Leslie Seltzer of the University of Wisconsin. She designed an…

Just why do people get more attractive when you’re drunk?

It’s a fairly well-known idea that people start looking better and better the more one drinks alcohol. But is there actually a scientific reasoning behind this? It might all have to do with a little something called bilateral symmetry. Almost all multicellular organisms exhibit some degree of symmetry – sponges are the only known exception…

The collision that created Earth’s Moon is reenacted around an alien star

NLTT 43806 is a white dwarf, the dying remnants of a star like our own. But there’s a problem. Its composition doesn’t make any sense…unless there was a cataclysm just like the one Earth experienced four billion years ago. Located about fifty light-years away, NLTT 43806 is unlike any other white dwarf we’ve seen before.…

The Ultimate Symbiosis: Mealybugs have bacteria living inside their bacteria

Lots of organisms rely on symbiotic relationships, in which two species rely on each other for survival and one lives inside the other. But citrus mealybugs enjoy a triply symbiotic relationship unlike any we’ve ever seen…with one absolutely crucial exception. Microbiologist John McCutcheon of the University of Montana and biologist Carol von Dohlen of Utah…

Futurama teaches us why Fry loves being the universe’s punching bag

On last night’s Futurama, Fry took it upon himself to defend a helpless giant egg, and then he promptly fell in love with the monstrous, acid-spewing bone vampire that hatched from it. Fry really is the ultimate glutton for punishment. “Fry Am The Egg Man” finds Leela dragging Fry and Bender to a farmer’s market…

Will Man of Steel feature an all-out war involving the US Army?

An inside source claims to have huge plot info about The Man of Steel. Jonathan Demme is adapting an unpublished new Stephen King novel. There’s great news for the future of True Blood and Warehouse 13. And what is Batman’s strange new vehicle in The Dark Knight Rises? Spoilers from here on out! Top image…

Chimp and human brains are even more alike than we thought

When we’re born, the part of our brain that controls our most complex cognitive functions, such as self-awareness and creativity, isn’t fully formed yet. It then starts developing very quickly…and much the same happens with chimpanzees. Of course, chimp brains don’t develop nearly as much as their human counterparts. But both species’ forebrains see remarkable…

Strange alien planet is impossibly black

TrES-2b is a Jupiter-sized planet located about 750 light-years from Earth. It reflects just 1% of the sunlight that reaches it, making it essentially one vast black sphere. In fact, it’s darker than just about any substance found on Earth. We’ve never observed anything remotely like this before. The key concept here is albedo, also…

What is the future of Amy and Rory on Doctor Who? Plus tons more Dark Knight Rises set photos!

Zoe Saldana reveals whom she wants to see shirtless in Star Trek 2. Marc Webb explains how he built the world of The Amazing Spider-Man. Plus key World War Z details and the first look at Superman’s adoptive dad! Spoilers from here on out! Top image from The Amazing Spider-Man. The Dark Knight Rises Here…

Ancient toe might prove that all ancient humanoid species were constantly having sex with each other

Late last year, we learned that early humans and Neanderthals once shared Eurasia with a third hominin group, known as Denisovans. Now, the new discovery of a Denisovan toe bone might indicate that these three hominin groups were pretty much constantly interbreeding. https://gizmodo.com/another-humanoid-species-co-existed-with-early-humans-a-5715516 This new find is exciting scientists – so much so, in fact,…

Gibbons defy their own evolution to jump as high as they can

Most jumping animals – such as frogs and grasshoppers – have some powerful adaptations that basically make their legs into giant springs. But our ape cousins manage to leap insane distances through sheer force of will, without any helpful adaptations. Gibbons generally live high up in the rainforest canopy, which means they have to find…

Earth doesn’t need the Moon

The Moon was long considered an essential stabilizing presence in the development of life on Earth. Without its satellite, the Earth would have tilted too much on its axis, making life impossible. But maybe the Moon wasn’t needed after all. The scientific consensus has held that, without the Moon to stabilize the tilt of Earth’s…

Twins carry a secret evolutionary benefit

At first glance, there’s no good reason why humans would evolve the ability to give birth to twins. Indeed, human reproductive systems make having even one child difficult. But twins are doing a big favor for their siblings’ survival chances. Giving birth to twins can be very difficult in regions without adequate healthcare – the…

The Avengers are headed to Cleveland, plus Joss Whedon reveals his favorite on the team!

Zoe Saldana is ready to make Avatar 2. Alan Tudyk talks playing an adversary in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Could there be a new animated Star Trek show? Plus George R.R. Martin doles out cryptic Game of Thrones casting hints! Spoilers from here on out! Top image from The Dark Knight Rises. The Avengers Joss…

Rats are awesome masters of all things poisonous

We recently learned that rats in Africa can use plant poison to kill lions, and their North American counterparts also have a few tricks up their sleeves. Woodrats eat so many different toxic plants, it’s impossible to poison them. https://gizmodo.com/this-rat-uses-plant-poison-to-make-weapons-that-kill-li-5827200 Many plants evolve toxins that will poison any animal that tries to eat it. Because…

Eureka lets its side characters battle for the future of super-science

Eureka may be no more, but there’s still a ton of stories left until we reach the end of the line. In last night’s episode, we got an entertaining cat-and-mouse chase between two seriously unlikely characters…and it was kinda awesome. The episode finds Allison completely under the remote control of the town’s recurring nemesis, Beverly…

Yeast kept life on Earth alive before the rise of oxygen

Around 2.4 billion years ago, the ancestors of bacteria took over the oceans and began photosynthesizing, creating massive amounts of oxygen where before there had been barely any. This was the Great Oxygenation Event, which made all subsequent life on Earth possible. All life except . . . yeast. Yeast do depend on oxygen, so…

The first successful prediction of an undersea volcano eruption

The Axial Seamount is an undersea volcano located 250 miles off the Oregon coast. It’s one of the most active underwater volcanoes in the world, and it’s just started erupting. For the first time ever, scientists saw that eruption coming. Could their technique help give early warning to people living in regions where volcanoes might…

Director Rupert Wyatt reveals his plans for the next Planet of the Apes movie. Plus new set photos and videos for The Dark Knight Rises!

Marvel is releasing two movies in 2014…but which ones? J.J. Abrams promises we’re nearing the end of all the Star Trek speculation. John Noble discusses Peter’s future on Fringe. Plus set photos for Man of Steel and World War Z! Spoilers ahead! Top image from Man of Steel. The Dark Knight Rises Here are a…

The Dark Knight Rises Set Videos