Articles by James Maynard
Hubble Space Telescope spots two new objects beyond Pluto - will we soon visit these icy bodies?
The New Horizons Spacecraft could visit bodies unknown until recently and first theorized in science fiction.
Nightmare wasp builds nest from corpses... dead ant, dead ant...
The bone-head wasp builds its nests, at least in part, from the bodies of dead ants. But why? Deuteragenia ossarium, or the "bone-house wasp," a newly-discovered species of the insect, builds its nest from the dead bodies of ants.
Umbrella galaxy shows cannibalism among families of stars
Galactic cannibalism is showing in the Umbrella Galaxy, a near-twin of the Milky Way. The Umbrella Galaxy is a family of stars in the process of tearing apart another such group.
Plants can hear predators chewing leaves
Plants can sense vibrations of predators chewing their leaves, spurring chemical defenses against the pests.
Baleen and sperm whales are ocean's 'ecosystem engineers,' new study says
Great whales may play a larger role than once believed in maintaining the balance of the ocean's ecosystem, according to a new study from the University of Vermont.
Stem cells self-organize with help from geometry
Human stem cells can form into organs, blood and brains, given a little help from chemicals and geometry.
Plastics disappearing in oceans - where is it all going?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and other whirlpools of plastics are missing 99 percent of the material that should be there. What is the mystery of the missing garbage?
Manatees on the comeback - no longer endangered species?
The west Indian manatee is on the comeback, and with populations growing, the Fish and Wildlife Service is considering re-classifying the animal.
Freezing testicles could provide hope for cancer survivors - it works in mice!
Young male cancer patients often become sterile, but a new discovery could give them the hope of - one day - having children of their own.
Dark chocolate for peripheral artery disease - are polyphenols the next new drug for PAD?
People suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD) may find relief from symptoms from an unexpected source - dark chocolate.
Archaeopteryx had feathers before flight - but why?
Feathered dinosaurs developed the body covering before Archaeopteryx, but a new specimen of the fossil could reveal the purpose of feathers before flight.
Fabien Cousteau honors grandfather Jacques with test of underwater colony in Mission 31
Mission 31, a month-long experiment in living underwater, is a tribute to the legendary Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
Tibetans inherited gene for high-altitude living from ancient humans
Denisovans, ancient human ancestors, were likely the source of an unusual gene allowing Tibetans to live at extremely high altitudes.
Human gut cells made to produce insulin - hope for type 1 diabetics?
Insulin could be produced by cells found in the human intestine, according to new research from Columbia University.
Cassini marks 10 years at Saturn, NASA plans for end of mission
Saturn has been studied by the Cassini orbiter for a decade. NASA is planning the spacecraft's grand finale -- which just might discover alien life.
Emperor penguins declining, but how is climate change affecting other arctic species?
Climate change could be harming emperor penguins, but how are populations of the animals that hunt the birds faring?
Bee nerd says western bumblebees recovering - what does this mean for bee populations?
Has one species of bee started developing a resistance to the cause of deaths for colonies throughout the U.S. and Europe?
Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 to launch on July 1 - hopefully
NASA will attempt to launch the OCO-2 spacecraft on July 1. This will be the first mission for the space agency aimed directly at measuring levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
UN Leader Ban Ki-Moon adopts lion cub in Kenya - but why?
A lion cub was adopted by the United Nations chief Ban Ki-Moon in Nairobi. What does this have to do with an important environmental meeting?
Leg braces, exoskeletons, therapy - are wheelchairs about to become a thing of the past?
Paraplegics are seeing a new generation of technologies to allow them to walk again. Are wheelchairs about to become a thing of the past?
Private space tourism balloon passes flight test, may go commercial in 2016
Space tourists could head to the edge of space by 2016, at a price lower than a trip around the world.
Tropical aquariums spark hot tempers in Hawaii
The aquarium trade is taking almost half a million tropical fish each year from waters off Hawaii. One controversial environmental group has vowed to end the practice.
Mars was cold and wet? Curiosity sees evidence of glaciers at Mount Sharp
Evidence of ancient glaciers at Mount Sharp on Mars may reveal the red planet was once cold and wet, but what does that mean for the search for alien life?
Cloudina - how one of the first animals built an ancient reef
One of the world's first animals made an ancient reef out of cement. This is how the creature did it.
Pablo Escobar hippopotamus population now invasive in Columbia
Hippopotamuses owned by Pablo Escobar outlived their owner, and are now becoming an invasive species in the near-ideal climate.
After Angara rocket delay, what's next for the Russian space program?
Angara, the first new Russian rocket since the Cold War, was delayed from its maiden flight. But how important is it to Moscow for the rocket design to work?
Air quality improves across U.S. - are you breathing easy yet?
NASA images show air quality is improving across the U.S., but tens of millions still live in polluted areas.
Elephant Shrew size of the mouse, with genes (and trunk) of a pachyderm
Elephant shrews are more like their mammoth cousins than shrews. A new variety of the creatures has been discovered in Namibia.
WHO calls for drastic measures to prevent an ebola epidemic
An ebola outbreak in Africa is the worst ever seen. As it heads toward a large city for the first time, WHO is calling for drastic measures to contain the disease.
Monkeys evolve differing faces to avoid crossbreeding
Guenon monkeys have distinctive faces, making it easy to tell one species from another - but why did these stylish animals evolve?
