Articles by James Maynard
Quelccaya Ice Cap glacier in Peru gives global warming a chilly reception
Quelccaya Ice Cap glacier in Peru is revealing centuries worth of secrets about the climate. But, what does it say about our present?
Love for Sriracha hot sauce spicy secret finally revealed (video)
People who love Sriracha may be triggering a natural human reaction to burning, according to a new study.
SpaceX set to test grasshopper-like landing legs on Falcon 9 rocket
The booster on the next supply mission to the International Space Station by SpaceX will be guided to a soft landing over the water. How could this simple test revolutionize space travel?
Global warming powerless in slowing down excess winter deaths
Improvements in health and social services have reduced the number of wintertime fatalities in the United Kingdom. But, what does that have to do with global warming and influenza?
Dogs are wired to understand human emotions and react accordingly: Study
Dogs can understand humans to a greater degree than thought possible. New research explains what may be responsible for the special bond between humans and canines.
Volcanoes helping slow down global warming: Here's how
Global temperatures have risen much more slowly since 1998 than they have since 1970. Researchers believe volcanoes may be responsible. Why?
Meteorite slams into Moon, creating brilliant flash
A meteor, weighing nearly 900 pounds crashed into the Moon, creating a new crater. The blast could be seen from the Earth.
Fruit-loving lemurs are the brainiest of all
Lemurs are smart, social mammals. A new study now shows those lemurs that eat fruit are the smartest of all, but why?
Has Star Trek Starfleet set up a base in Mars? Martian sand dunes suggest so
Strange formations on Mars look like the insignia from Star Trek. They lie like birds or fleets of aircraft on long flights. But what does any of this have to do with an interplanetary internet network?
Wildlife experts rescue endangered right whale from 280 feet of fishing line
A right whale, caught in 300 feet of commercial fishing rope has been freed of its burden - mostly. But, what's next for the four-year-old marine mammal?
Dream on! Scientists solve why some dreamers recall better than others
Why do some people remember dreams well and others don't? The secret has now been revealed... Dreams are remembered by some people more often than other people.
Magnificent beauty of frozen Great Lakes revealed in amazingly detailed NASA photo
The Great Lakes are nearly frozen over and a new photograph from the Aqua space observatory shows how far the ice has gone...
How the Man on the Moon has a better internet connection than you do
Radio communication is no longer suitable for modern space travel. A new laser network can transmit data much faster than most internet services on the Earth.
Atom smasher: Large Hadron Collider 2.0 may be 4x times bigger than current one, if CERN gets its way
Colliding sub-atomic particles into one another may soon be done at far greater energies, if a new proposal is adopted. The next collider could completely surround Geneva.
PLATO satellite will find earth-like planets but you'll have to wait for 10 years
PLATO, a new space observatory will use 34 telescopes to hunt for Earth-like planets far from our home world. What else will the telescope network see on distant stars?
Hubble spies nearby galaxy rotate like hands of clock... tick tock, tick tock
Observation of the lateral movement of stars in another galaxy has revealed clock-like movements in one of Milky Way's nearest neighbors.
Lemurs on the verge of extinction, conservationists warn
Ninety percent of lemur species are on the verge of extinction. Political unrest, and a presidential election, may dictate the fate of the endangered mammals.
Google Forest Watch map useful in tracking deforestation 'near real-time'
A new map, running on the Google Earth Engine, tracks deforestation in detail never before seen. Here's how to use the system yourself to track deforestation in your own area.
What on earth is Arctic-dwelling snowy owl doing in the U.S. and Canada?
Snowy owls are becoming more common throughout the United States and Canada. Birds that once lived in the Arctic are now seen in New England and New York. But, what are they doing there, and what do lemmings have to do with it?
Surprise! Cats and dogs can see UV light but you can't
House pets like cats, dogs and rodents can see ultraviolet light, invisible to human beings. What are they seeing that you're not?
With orange alert, Beijing finally taking smog problem seriously
Beijing is covered in thick, noxious smog. Chinese officials are finally admitting they have a problem. By going orange.
Speeding star shocks neighbors...but won't get speeding ticket
Kappa Cassiopeiae is traveling through space so quickly, it is building a shock wave in front of its path. This has been shown in a stunning new photo from the Spitzer Space Telescope.
If you're a Muslim and planning to migrate to Mars, don't! There's a fatwa on it
A fatwa issued by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment (GAIAE) forbids Muslims from participating in a one-way mission to Mars. However, Mars One thinks the journey is ideal for followers of Islam.
Darkest secrets of supernova unraveled by NuSTAR telescope
Supernova explosions can't be triggered in computer models. A new study, looking at the remains of a recent event, shows what triggers these mighty blasts.
Asian jumping carp causing Chicago $18 bn headache
Chicago is planning to keep Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. The government is planning an $18 billion re-make of city canals. Local residents have another idea, and it involves tartar sauce.
Babies to the rescue! Ants use their young as rafts during flood
Ants build rafts out of their own bodies to survive floods, with their babies at the bottom, on the water. Here's why that actually makes sense, though it seems a bit cruel.
Deadly honeybee virus and parasite buzzing on to wild bumblebees, warn apiologists
Diseases easily managed in controlled honeybee populations are now wreaking havoc among wild bumblebees. A new study suggests how these diseases may spread. How serious could this be for human crops?
Bat-inspired flying robot? Watch out, Batman! You've got competition
Flying robots may learn a thing or two from bats. Researchers are looking at the possibilities of using the flying animals as a basic design for a new generation of flying devices.
Biggest loser: College sweetheart love makes 454 lbs man shed 276 lbs
A Virginia man lost the love of his life and gained hundreds of pounds. After seeing her again, he became determined to lose it all.
Hydrogen-producing artificial leaf may soon end our search for cheap hydrogen
By looking at how photosynthesis occurs in plants, scientists have identified why the process is so efficient. This small change could revolutionize renewable energy.
