Latest articles by Natalie Wolchover
If Not Dark Matter, Then What?
Dark matter has been called into question by a new survey of stars. But physicists think the survey, and not dark matter itself, is flawed, because the alternatives to dark matter theory are weak.
How Music 'Awakens' Alzheimer's Patients
Music seems to have a transformative effect on Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Scientists are starting to figure out why.
Can N.J. Couple Break the Lease on Their 'Haunted House'?
A couple in New Jersey claims their rental home is haunted, and is trying to renege on their lease, but will their argument stand in court?
Why Do Brits and Americans Spell Words Differently?
Blame a very opinionated man named Noah Webster.
10 Everyday Things that Cause Brain Farts
Our brains are generally adept at processing sensory data from everyday life, but in these 10 circumstances, they comically fail.
What Would Happen If You Fell into a Black Hole?
Falling into a black hole would be a rough ride, but there would be some major upshots.
Name That Hurricane: Famous Examples of the 5 Hurricane Categories
There are five categories of hurricanes based on their windspeed. Here is one example of each type of storm.
Why Everyone Believes in Magic (Even You)
In a new book, author Matthew Hutson accrues evidence that suggests we all believe in magic; he argues that magical thinking is actually good for us.
'Monolith' Object on Mars? You Could Call It That
Have aliens erected a "monolith" on the surface of Mars?
Update: Texas Fireball Real After All, NASA Says
A bright object that streaked across the daytime sky in Texas was actually a meteor, not a jet contrail.
Update: Texas Fireball was Real After All, NASA Says
A bright object that streaked across the daytime sky in Texas was actually a meteor, not a jet contrail.
Mystery Fireball in Texas Actually a Jet Contrail, NASA Scientist Says
A bright object that streaked across the daytime sky in Texas was actually a jet contrail, a NASA meteor expert confirms.
Why Does Spinning Make You Dizzy?
Spinning makes you dizzy because of inertia, an important principle of physics. Here's how it works.
Rare, Unexplained Daytime Fireball Scorches Texas Sky
Spring is fireball season, as exemplified by a huge meteor that streaked across the Texas sky during the day last week. Scientists can't explain the seasonal uptick.
Niceness is in Your DNA, Scientists Find
Researchers have identified some of the genes that influence how nice you are.
Jesus vs. Scientists: Who's Better at Miracles?
After 2,000 years, have scientists managed to replicate the miracles of Jesus Christ?
5 Spiffy Facts about Spit
New research shows that spit contains all sorts of juicy information about who we are, and how we are.
How Do We Fall Asleep?
Concentrating on how you fall asleep tends to makes it not happen, so it's impossible to understand the process by doing it. Here's the neuroscience of what's going on.
Making Money Work: Using Coins to Generate Electricity
A conceptual artist and philosopher says he has solved both the financial and energy crises by using money's natural instability to generate electricity.
Should You Pre-Chew Your Baby's Food?
Pre-chewing your infant's food may be an important and safe way to boost his or her immune system.
Too Much Homework Is Bad for Kids
Australian researchers say that homework tends to hurt schoolchildren's test performance. Experts say the same holds true in the U.S.
April Fools! 5 Hilarious Fake Scientific Breakthroughs
Scientists and scientific publications don't often get to pull pranks or tell lies. When April 1st rolls around, they are ready to let rip.
If We Discover Aliens, What's Our Protocol for Making Contact?
There are three main scenarios for how a human-alien encounter might play out.
