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Why Some Genetic Miscues Are Helpful
A new look at the reasons why organisms missing pairs of genes sometimes do much better than normal.
The Cell’s Backup Genetic Instructions
The cell is equipped with multiple redundancies in case something goes wrong. Researchers have begun to map these systems.
Science Evolves. Will Science Education?
Science is a constantly changing, self-correcting process. Why do we teach it as a collection of old, settled facts?
All Is Not Fair in Cake-Cutting and Math
When divvying something up, there's more than one way to define what's fair.
Nobel Prize Awarded for Quantum Topology
Three physicists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for rewriting our understanding of exotic quantum states on the surfaces of materials.
Off-the-Shelf Lens Assists Dark Matter Find
A camera lens often used by wildlife and sports photographers has helped astronomers learn about dark matter and galaxy formation.
From Gaia, a Twinkling Treasure Trove
The first star map from the ESA’s Gaia space telescope is poised to revolutionize our understanding of the Milky Way galaxy.
Responding Rapidly to Big Discoveries
How do scientists react to major breaking science news? For astrophysicists after the big gravitational waves announcement, it was meeting for two weeks in Santa Barbara, California.
The Strange Case of Typhoid Mary
The infamous case of Typhoid Mary underscores the importance of tolerance in understanding disease.