
Michael Dhar
Michael Dhar is a science editor and writer based in Chicago. He has an MS in bioinformatics from NYU Tandon School of Engineering, an MA in English literature from Columbia University and a BA in English from the University of Iowa. He has written about health and science for Live Science, Scientific American, Space.com, The Fix, Earth.com and others and has edited for the American Medical Association and other organizations.
Latest articles by Michael Dhar

Climate Cities: Can Urban America Save Paris Agreement?
By Michael Dhar published
U.S. cities committed to the Paris climate accord after President Trump announced the country's exit. But how much can urban areas do?

Life Without the EPA: Superfund Apartments and Acid Rain
By Michael Dhar published
Imagining the U.S. without federal environmental oversight from the EPA.

Prehistoric X-Men: How the 'First Mutants' Gave Humans 'Superpowers'
By Michael Dhar published
Meet some of the "first mutations" in human prehistory.

Always 'Z' Prepared: When Zombies Attack, Look for a Scout
By Michael Dhar published

Superbeasts: Meet the 'Fantastic Four' of the Animal Kingdom
By Michael Dhar published
Get the science scoop on the animal kingdom's Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and Thing. Can you guess which animals make the cut?

Insomnia Can Worsen Chronic Pain Conditions
By Michael Dhar published
People who have problems sleeping may also be more sensitive to pain, new research finds.

Child Prodigies and Autism: Is There a Genetic Link?
By Michael Dhar published
Children who are prodigies may have certain genetic traits in common with people who have autism, new research suggests.

How Real-Life AI Rivals 'Star Wars': A Universal Translator?
By Michael Dhar published
Star Wars' beloved droid C-3PO's astounding translation abilities might be the most useful in everyday life, and the most likely to be replicated by real-life AI.

How Real-Life AI Rivals 'Terminator': Robots Take the Shot
By Michael Dhar published

How Real-Life AI Rivals 'Ultron': Computers Learn to Learn
By Michael Dhar published
Blessed and burdened with a tremendous learning capacity, Ultron masters 3,000 years of human history in a flash. But computers that learn are not only on the big screen, say experts.

How Real-Life AI Rivals 'Ex Machina': Passing Turing
By Michael Dhar published
The Turing test, a foundational method of AI evaluation, shapes the plot of the sci-fi/psychological thriller "Ex Machina." But real-life systems can already pass the test.

How Real-Life AI Rivals 'Chappie': Robots Get Emotional
By Michael Dhar published
Artificial intelligence like the kind seen in the movies is getting real, as researchers work on robots with feelings like Chappie.

'Captain America' to 'Interstellar': The Science of 2014's Sci-Fi
By Michael Dhar published
Here are the 12 best science nuggets from 2014's science-fiction films.

Mind Maze: How Your Memory Deceives You
By Michael Dhar published
Sci-fi loves to mess with memory, but memory misleads in real life, too.

I Am Groot: Is a Walking, Talking Plant-Person Possible?
By Michael Dhar published
In the film "Guardians of the Galaxy," the character "Groot" is a walking, talking tree that seems to defy nature. How outlandish is the idea of a plant-animal hybrid?

Flight MH17 Victims Left Lasting Contributions to AIDS Advocacy
By Michael Dhar published
Six of the people killed in the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 were dedicated to HIV/AIDS research and programs, and researchers mourned their lives at recent a health conference.

What Is Communism?
By Michael Dhar published
Though the term "communism" can refer to specific political parties, at its core, communism is an ideology of economic equality through the elimination of private property.

What Causes Skin Tags?
By Michael Dhar published
The common skin growth called a skin tag, or acrochordon, usually develops in folds of skin and causes little to no harm. Still, these growths can be irritating, and doctors can easily remove them.

How Hot Is the Sun?
By Michael Dhar published
The sun, a massive nuclear-powered star at the center of the solar system, generates the heat and light that sustain life on Earth. But how hot is the sun?

What Is Bonded Leather?
By Michael Dhar published
If you've purchased a relatively cheap leather sofa, leather-bound books or an inexpensive belt, you might own a bonded-leather item. But what is bonded leather?
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