Sequencing DNA from individual cells is changing the way that researchers think of humans as a whole.
A new report based on input from the science community outlines the most pressing objectives over the next decade for studying the sun and the far-reaching effects of solar activity. The report, released by the National Research Council, identifies specific science goals and provides recommendations for how to maintain robust and effective programs despite budgetary…
Climate change is set to reduce Latin America’s capacity to produce renewable energy, according to Roberto Schaeffer, a Brazilian energy planning expert. He told the Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development underway in Brazil that many forms of renewable energy are vulnerable to variations in climate, due to their dependence on water…
Images sent back from NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Wednesday confirmed that the precious sample is being held by the rover’s scoop, and will soon be delivered to two miniature chemical labs to undergo an unprecedented analysis. (Related: “Mars Rover Curiosity Completes First Full Drill.”) To the delight of the scientists, the rock powder has…
We have only begun to discuss this idea with religious education and secular school teachers, but all have been excited by the prospect of turning this into student projects—for helping children learn and experience history, science, and religion.
The fringes of Antarctica are being invaded by alien plants and tiny animals, scientists have found. Researchers scoured the clothes and boots of tourists and scientists visiting the continent and found that most were carrying plant seeds. The research team says the plants are likely to spread as the climate warms, estimating that about 70,000…
Can a few neurons trigger a full memory? In a new study, published in Nature, a group of researchers from MIT showed for the first time that it is possible to activate a memory on demand, by stimulating only a few neurons with light, using a technique known as optogenetics. Optogenetics is a powerful technology…