Imagine not being able to recognize faces. You could see faces, but you'd be entirely unable to distinguish one face from another. All faces would look more or less the same--an amorphous assemblage of eyes, ears, noses, lips, and chins. To put it mi...
Don and Yael discuss a problem with the medical system that needs to be corrected. D: Time once again for What You Didn't Know. This is where we read a well-known science fact and then surprise you with the follow-up. Ready? Y: Yep. D: Heart disease...
With commencement exercises happening these days all over the world, today is a good time to write again about the Graduation Pledge Alliance. Nearly 150 colleges and universities and some high schools in North America and Asia have in recent years m...
Ever wonder how they determine how many calories are in food? Yael and Don explain it in this Moment of Science. Y: All right, Don. What are you doing? D: I'm using a bomb calorimeter to figure out how many calories are in my lunch. See, I put my san...
It's impossible to talk about the new Sex and the City movie without first mentioning Sex and the City, the HBO series; or the rabid fan devotion it enjoyed; or the equally fervent antipathy (female and male) it inspired－but we will try. The movie...
What should you do when a wild animal or bird needs help? First, be careful! Mammals can carry diseases transmissible to humans, including rabies. That's why you shouldn't handle skunks, bats, coyotes, foxes or raccoons, but call animal control for h...
The ladies who meet regularly in a museum cafe in Cologne skip the gossip and get straight down to haiku, an ultra-brief poetry style that has spread from Japan around the globe. Cologne's haiku workshop, held at the Museum of East Asian Art, often h...
Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can never hurt you? Not so. In fact, science has shown that negative stereotypes can cause a very specific type of harm, even to people who do not believe the stereotypes; they can significantly affect...
Welcome to another Moment of Science. Once again we're going to talk about some everyday scientific wisdom that may or may not be true. For example, here's a common belief about exercise. If you work out in the morning and want to lose more calories,...
The angry green giant is back! Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) has exiled himself to Portugal after his experiment with gamma radiation went awry, turning him into a superhuman rageaholic whose growth spurts and pigment change signal impending destr...
It's no secret that China's economy is growing at a rapid pace. But it may surprise you to learn that some Chinese citizens are growing, too...taller, that is, thanks to the popularity of leg-lengthening surgery. That's right: we're talking about a t...
Don is anticipating a career in comedy, but Yael pretty well quashes his ambition. D: Ya?l, I've been thinking lately that maybe I should go into stand-up comedy. Y: What on earth gave you that idea? D: I've noticed that I seem to make a lot of peopl...
Dear Annie: I am 24 years old and in considerable debt due to my mother. I didn't want to press charges, so I'm struggling to pay it off. I am planning to be married next year, and my fianc is helping me financially. Despite the situation, my mother...
Mike: You've got to try these sausages, Amanda. They're delicious! Amanda: I'd love to eat a sausage, Mike, but didn't your mother ever teach you any table manners? You shouldn't talk with your mouth full! No one wants to see what your food looks lik...
Mike: Hey Amanda! Happy Friday! What are your plans for the weekend? Amanda: Oh, a bunch of my friends and I are going to check out the new amusement park that just opened up. Want to come? Mike: Sure, that sounds like fun. I love amusement parks. Wh...
