Articles by James Maynard
You dirty, BIG rat: Can super-massive rodents take over the Earth one day? Possible
Giant rats may one day take over the Earth, according to a new thought experiment. The idea may not be as crazy as it sounds - rodents have been far larger in the past.
Calico cats, and not weight loss pills, may one day help us beat obesity
Obesity may have met its match - calico cats are able to shut off genetic coding for colors, so why not for a predisposition to weight gain?
Elephants hug and comfort each other in times of distress...just like humans
Elephants are intelligent and highly social animals and now a new research says that the pachyderms also comfort and calm one another down in times of distress. The study is important because learning about the behavior of elephants under stress can help humans better manage the animals.
Cygnus supply spacecraft completes mission, heads for disintegration
The Cygnus supply spacecraft, finished with its mission, has now been filled with garbage and sent crashing back to the Earth. But, don't worry. It will disintegrate as it enters the planet's atmosphere.
Caught on Camera: Giant Pacific octopus tries to snatch camera from scuba divers for disturbing its privacy
Two divers dove into the water to film a giant Pacific octopus. They weren't prepared for what happened next...
Methane gas leak worse than diesel for climate change
Natural gas may be leaking tremendous amounts of greenhouse gases into the environment. A new study shows new buses running on natural gas may not be as eco-friendly as once believed.
New light harvesting technique by Stanford team may revolutionize solar industry
By studying the way photosynthesis works in bacteria, researchers hope to create a new generation of highly versatile solar cells.
Reward $21000: Hunt for killer(s) of 3 southern sea otters begins
Three sea otters were shot dead in September. The race is on to find the person or people responsible. Groups are banding together to offer $21,000 for information leading to the capture of those who carried out the crime.
Predicting volcanic eruptions may become easier as magma cools down
Magma inside volcanoes is cooler and thicker than once believed. Crystals within the structures may reveal the mechanism behind eruptions.
Giant asteroid 2000 EM26 set to blow a kiss to Earth on Monday: How and when to watch live
An asteroid the size of three football fields will narrowly miss the Earth Monday night. Here is how and when you can watch the event live.
Aye, LADEE, those are nice photos of the Moon
A camera meant to orientate the LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) spacecraft returned the first five images of the surface of the Moon. Sometimes, the best pictures are the ones you never thought would be worth viewing.
Mammoth tusk gives up on apartment living in Seattle...heads to museum
The largest mammoth tusk ever discovered near Seattle was unearthed by accident. A mammoth tusk was accidentally unearthed in a 30-foot deep pit during the construction of an apartment complex in South Lake Union, Washington, near Seattle.
Solar system wrapped up with giant magnetic ribbon
The entire solar system is wrapped up with a giant magnetic ribbon. This strange feature may hold the answer to a decades-old mystery in astronomy. It could also tell us exactly where Voyager 1 is right now.
DUMB 101: 1 in 4 Americans is ignorant that Earth revolves around the Sun
Americans support science, and even enjoy hearing about discoveries and advancements in the fields of science and technology. So, why do so many remain ignorant of basic scientific facts?
Mars jelly doughnut mystery finally solved: It's not an alien fungus, it's a...
The mystery of Pinnacle Island has been solved. It appears Curiosity killed the rock. The Mars jelly doughnut mystery has at last been solved. People who have seen the image of the strange rock, taken by the Curiosity rover, have dubbed the specimen Pinnacle Island.
Ganymede: Scientists make first ever global geologic map of Jupiter's biggest moon
The first ever geologic map of Ganymede ever recorded has been developed by astronomers. What can the map tell us about the history of the largest moon in the solar system? And what might be swimming under the ice?
Made in India drugs come under FDA scanner over safety concerns
Prescription drugs made in India are coming under increased scrutiny from the FDA. A new agreement between the United States and Indian drug may fix that problem. Or not...
Quit smoking now if you want better mental health (especially if you suffer from psychiatric problems)
For people suffering from anxiety, depression, alcohol or drug abuse, the best thing they can do is to quit smoking. The biggest stumbling block, however, may be mental health clinicians.
2 doses of HPV vaccine enough to protect girls from genital warts
A new study shows just two doses of the drug HPV vaccine, which is taken by young women around the world, provide nearly as much protection from cervical cancer as three. Researchers also concluded more American women should be taking the drug, driving sales for manufacturers. But, who funded the study?
Will robot termite 'TERMES' be used one day to build Martian colonies? Possible
Small, independent robots may one day be able to explore the bottom of the ocean, repairs nuclear reactor cores and even build the first colonies on Mars. But for now, they are building castles out of foam bricks.
Termite-inspired robots can build anything without masterplan...even human colonies on Mars
Robots inspired by termites could change the future of the construction industry. They may also, one day, be able to build the first colonies away from Earth. How did all this technology come from the lowly termite?
Plastic shopping bags to diesel fuel? Possible, say scientists
Plastic bags are filling up landfills, choking animals and forming islands in the oceans. Wouldn't it be nice if they could be used to power our homes and automobiles? That is now possible. Here's how its done.
Mother Nature immortalizes Ichthyosaur in the act of giving birth
A mother Ichthyosaur died while giving birth almost 248 million years ago and was fossilized. This ancient event may answer questions about the history of reptiles worlwide.
Tawny crazy ants resort to chemical warfare to get upper hand over fire ants
Fire ants and tawny crazy ants are now common throughout the southern United States. Fire ants are now falling back, and crazy ants are winning, due to a unique adaptation.
Indian Mars orbiter Mangalyaan completes 100 days in space
The first deep space probe from India, Mangalyaan, is celebrating 100 days in space. What big secret of the red planet could this mission reveal?
Here's a computer chip that can eavesdrop on conversations between bacteria
It's easy to see bacteria, but now we can listen in on what they are saying to each other, as well. What could this mean for the future of medicine?
Can white or green roofs help fight global warming? Study says, Yes!
Cool roofs and green roofs, covered in vegetation, can help bring down cooling costs. The better choice for your hometown might depend less on your local summer than your winter!
Clovis boy 'missing link' of Native American heritage?
Examination of DNA from a Clovis boy who died 12,600 years ago may answer questions about the origins of most Native Americans. But critics are holding on to a different theory.
Shroud of Turin: Face of Jesus or massive earthquake or elaborate hoax?
Is the Shroud of Turin the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth? Or is it an elaborate hoax played on the human race for 600 years? A team of researchers look to neutrons to find the answer.
Tibetans have special genes for high altitude living
People living on the Tibetan plateau are well adapted to life two-and-a-half times higher in altitude than Denver. A genetic study of the people of this region reveals how they thrive and their distant origins.
