People around the world spend an estimated 3 billion hours playing computer games every week. That might seem like a colossal waste of time, but scientists are starting to harness some of that...
British scientists have developed a genetic test for a disorder that causes people to emit an unusual body odor: The gene causes sufferers to smell like rotten fish. For those who have been...
The residents of Australia's Northern Territory share their land with one of the deadliest predators on the planet—the saltwater crocodile. Getting humans and these fearsome reptiles to coexist...
An Oxford University researcher will soon test whether applying an electric current to part of the brain can help children learn math—an effect previously demonstrated in adults. Parents are...
In this interview with The World's Marco Werman, NOVA Producer Miles O'Brien describes how surveillance footage played a key role in cracking the case of the Boston Marathon bombings. But as...
Mexico City faces a severe water crisis as 21 million residents slowly drain its aquifer. An environmental group is suggesting a plan to install rainwater harvesting systems on individual homes,...
Sight, sound, touch, smell, taste. We interact with the world and navigate through it thanks to our senses. But what if we could add to that repertoire? A British scientist and a small group of...
What makes a dog bold or shy, eager or sullen? The Veterinary University of Vienna's Clever Dog Lab aims to find out with the help of some 600 Austrian dogs that owners volunteer for experiments....
Hurricane Sandy has renewed the debate over climate change in the United States, and two high-profile reports released since the storm have made it clear that without big changes we're headed for...
On July 4, 2012, scientists at CERN used the word "discovery" to describe the results of experiments designed to prove the existence of the Higgs boson, a particle that gives mass to the universe....
There's a lot more to the oceans than salt and water. Many other ingredients make up the rich broth that sustains marine life and helps regulate the Earth's climate. But where do those ingredients...
Could climate change be contributing to extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy? Jennifer Francis, a climatologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, believes that may be the case. In fact,...
After a crime or terrorist attack, authorities looking for the perpetrators may need to review many hours of surveillance video—in just minutes. But how can they speed up the video without speeding...
Thousands of drones could be in commercial use in the U.S. within a few years. These unmanned aerial vehicles may assist everyone from farmers and firefighters to doctors and utility workers. But...
In Australia's Northern Territory, termites build mounds that are tall, thin, and aligned like compass needles. How and why the insects do this is not entirely clear. One entomologist offers some...
Millions of years ago in what is today Australia's Outback, a herd of dinosaurs left behind footprints in what has been interpreted as a stampede to escape a predator. A young researcher now...
Discarded chewing gum is a common eyesore, and removing it from city streets and sidewalks can be costly. A Mexican congressman wants to solve the problem by borrowing a concept widely used in...
The Panama Canal is being expanded to accommodate larger ships carrying bigger loads. The construction has exposed a trove of fossils, revealing a wide array of creatures that lived at the southern...
Have you ever eaten a cocktail? Held a mouthful of juice in your hand? A team of chefs, chemists, and designers has come up with a way for you to do just that. They've created a biodegradable shell...
In 1862, Charles Darwin faced his greatest dilemma-whether or not to go public with his incendiary theory of evolution. It was a turning point for him, and for science as a whole. Today,...