Jules Verne also wanted to challenge people to think about new things that science could bring them. His stories were full of fantastic machines, but they were always things that couldin principlebe constructed. Because of this combination of knowled...
Thats right, its time for the Science Hero Award, where we honor a particular man or woman from history who made a contribution to science. Todays Science Hero, though, wasnt a scientist at all, but a science fiction writer. In fact, he was one of th...
So if youre in a house or car where people smoke and you brush up against a wall, rug, or furniture, your skin could come into contact with dangerous chemicals. Third-hand smoke is especially risky for infants and toddlers, who are most likely to rol...
Smoking, as we all know, is bad for you. We also know that inhaling other peoples smoke is nearly as unhealthy as lighting up on your own. Scientists are finding that just being in a car or building where people have been smoking is potentially bad n...
Surprisingly, if youve ever had this experience you might have noticed that the balloons move backwards just the opposite of your body. Why? Its because the balloons are floating in the air that fills the car. The air itself is subject to the same ac...
When we laugh, blood vessels relax and become more pliable, making it easier for blood to flow. Plus, laughter is a good stress reliever. Thats important because stress is known to harden arteries. Laughter is even good for digestion. If youre eating...
Okay, so if the wood is full of carbon and hydrogen, and the air is full of oxygen, why doesnt the kindling burn all by itself? Remember we said that given a chance, these atoms will link up to form molecules. But carbon, for example, wont combine wi...
Flying through turbulence in an airplane is usually something of a nuisance; when that fasten-your-seatbelts sign comes on, you know youre in for a bumpy ride. On todays Moment of Science, well learn how airplanes use technology to avoid turbulence i...
Scientists are tackling that dilemma Some are developing strains that produce cellulose and sugars, and could produce the same amount of energy as corn using a fraction of the production energy and land area. Others are splicing genes from other orga...
Airplane bumps are caused by regions of air moving at different speedsfor example, a layer of fast-moving windy air rubbing against a layer of relatively still air. Where the two masses of air rub against each other, you get turbulence, a chaotic and...
When most people fill their gas tanks, they think of fossil fuels and pumping oil from the ground. But many scientists around the country think bacteria. Bacteria have a bad reputation because they are responsible for several human illnesses, but the...
A chocolate bars flavor depends largely on the crystalline structure of the chocolates chemicals.Research, sponsored by chocolate bar companies of course, has probed the secrets of chocolate at the molecular level. They have found that taste is depen...
Ya?l: I was walking my cocker spaniel this morning, and we ran into two other dogs---a great dane almost as tall as I am, and a tiny Chihuahua! I can't believe they are all the same species! Don: You know, scientists are making great strides in under...
If you want to call to a friend half a block down a crowded street, you might cup your hands around your mouth to better aim your voice. If you're feeing particularly inventive, you might use a rolled up newspaper for better accuracy and volume. Have...
A study at the University of Arizona looked at the speech of several undergraduates talking on the phone, reading a story, and reading word lists. They found that all the speakers dropped syllables and even entire words. For example, the phrase going...
