Science

NASA’s Lost Satellite Just Made Its First Contact With Earth in 17 Years

It’s official: ISEE-3, the 36-year-old satellite that NASA left for dead over a decade ago, is back in touch with humankind. This afternoon, a group of citizen scientists who raised almost $160,000 to fund the process of taking control of ISEE-3 announced that two-way contact has been established with the little satellite that could. So…

Now We Can Watch Crystals Grow an Atom At a Time

Material scientists have watched crystals grow atom-by-atom for the first time—which will allow incredibly fine-grained control of how their microscopic structures are grown in the future. The researchers took a thin film of molecules containing the metal osmium, carbon and other elements, then fired a beam of electrons at it. That caused the molecules to…

Amazing Reef Fish Glow in the Dark But Remain Invisible to Predators

Red light can’t penetrate far past the ocean’s surface, so researchers thought that most fish don’t perceive red light. But some reef fish have taken advantage of the absence of red light, using it to communicate without attracting the attention of their predators. Once you pass the first 10 to 20 meters of seawater, most…

These Are NASA’s (Ugly) New Astronaut Shoes

On Thursday, NASA is sending the astronauts on the International Space Station a new pair of shoes. These so-called ForceShoes are not for space walks. They’re actually a high tech measurement device that helps NASA scientists gain a better understanding of the effects that heavy loads have on astronauts’ bodies. ForceShoes sort of work like…

A Simple Blast of Laser Could Help Your Teeth Grow Back

Teeth don’t grow back, as your dentist might like to remind you while revving up the drill for a root canal. But scientists have now found a way to regenerate dentin, the hard stuff in the middle of the tooth, right in the mouth. It’s surprisingly simple, too—all it takes is a blast of laser.…

The Moon’s Internet Connection Is Probably Faster than Yours

Not happy with your internet speeds? Worried about it getting worse? There’s a simple solution: Just move to the Moon. Researchers just beamed Wi-Fi there, and the connection is probably faster than anything you’ve got in your neighborhood. Moon Wi-Fi has been a long time coming, but researchers at NASA and MIT have now made…

NYPD to Carry Life-Saving Antidote Kits for Heroin Overdoses

The New York Police Department has announced that its officers are to start carrying antidote kits that will use a drug called naloxone to save the lives of heroin users who suffer overdose. The Associated Press reports that the NYPD will be provided with 19,500 kits, that contain two syringes and two inhalers of naloxone…

Bizarre Soviet-Era Theory About New State of Matter Is Actually Right

Here’s your dose of mind-bending physics for the day. In 1970, a young Soviet physicist named Vitaly Efimov proposed a trio of ultracold particles could arrange themselves in an “infinite nesting-doll configuration.” Scientists have now published compelling evidence that this state of matter, once dismissed by physicists, totally does exist. Like most of us, physicists…

A pair of research scientists prepare a vacuum chamber for testing at the European Space Agency’s Propulsion Laboratory in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, which is typically used to analyze prototype ion thrusters. The tests have to be carried out in vacuum chambers to simulate the hostile conditions of space. [ESA]

Mice in the Dragon’s Hold

The SpaceX Dragon has been promoted, carrying its first live mammals next mission. The Dragon will be carrying 40 mousetronauts for a three-week stay in space. This is an important step to certifying the Dragon for crewed flights. The Dragon just returned with a hold full of scientific samples, but it’s already time to start…

The Odd Tale of the Hollywood Bison and the Quest to Save It

What links Hollywood, a chewing gum tycoon and contraceptive darts? It’s the story of an unusual herd of bison. Calvin Duncan crouches low to the ground and eyes his target. The female bison knows he’s there, just a few dozen metres away, but she keeps on chewing the grass. Duncan quietly raises his rifle to…

This Satellite Image Looks Like a Cartoon Landscape

Depending on how you look at this image, it’s either a striking view of Western Sahara, or a cartoon mountain, backed by blue sky and shrouded in cloud. Obviously it’s the former, but the latter really appeals to the child in me. The photographs was actually taken by Expedition 40 Commander Steve Swanson on May…

Hedgehogs Run A Marathon Every Night

The science of ichnology, data-driven pet-care, and a bit of back-of-the-envelope calculations leads me to believe my little hedgehog is a world-class champion marathoner. Top image: Wilde Thing demonstrates a classic hedgehog-stride on a solid-surface wheel. Image credit: Volcano View Hedgehogs Ichnology is a fascinating field of investigating creatures by the traces they leave behind.…

Share Your Photos of This Weekend’s Never-Before-Seen Meteor Shower

The much anticipated and never-before-seen Camelopardalids meteor shower graced the skies of the Northern Hemisphere this weekend. While many say the reportedly epic meteor shower fell well short of expectations, others posted some pretty awesome photos online. What did you see? Regardless of whether you saw one meteor of 100 on Friday and Saturday night,…

How to Become an Astronaut

So you want NASA to fly you to the moon and let you play among the stars. Maybe let you see what spring is like on a-Jupiter and Mars? Well, you’re going to need more than a solid Sinatra impression to get NASA to accept you into its spacefaring ranks—a whole lot more. First, the…

Your “Gluten Intolerance” May Actually Be From Something Else in Wheat

Oh gluten, the least trendy protein of our time. As gluten-free has transcended science and exploded into diet fad, scientists increasingly suspect that gluten intolerance—apart from actual celiac disease—doesn’t exist at all. The true culprit could be a group of carbohydrates, including one in wheat called fructan. A new story from NPR’s Eliza Barclay does…

Wild Animals Sneak Onto Laboratory Running Wheels to Exercise

The wheel-running rodent is frequently associated with animals inside psychology laboratories. But what would happen if you gave wild animals access to a wheel? A pair of researchers found out. While exercise has always been thought of as important to help prevent maladies like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, sleep disorders, and to promote mental health,…

Tonight’s Meteor Shower Will Be Like Watching the Jump to Light Speed

Already being hyped as one of the best of 2014—with some calling it a once-in-a-lifetime experience—the Camelopardalids meteor shower, which starts tonight, will also be unlike many meteor showers you might have seen: Instead of lights streaming across the sky diagonally, the meteors will be radiating out from a very visible point in the sky.…

The Fermi Paradox: Where the Hell Are the Other Earths?

Everyone feels something when they’re in a really good starry place a really good starry place on a really good starry night and they look up and see this: Some people stick with the traditional, feeling struck by the epic beauty or blown away by the insane scale of the universe. Personally, I go for…

Lawn Ornaments Help Lemurs Stay Happy and Healthy

The San Francisco Zoo recently introduced its lemurs to some pink plastic flamingos. The results were predictably adorable, but the flamingos weren’t just decoration. They’re an effort to give the lemurs a bit of mental exercise. Above: a ringtailed lemur inspects the plastic intruder. While most zoos try to present animals in as naturalistic a…