Articles by Rebecca Kaplan
Close Your Eyes for Better Memory Recall
Closing your eyes can help you remember things, a new study shows. This works for both audial and visual information.
Sharks Sink in Fresh Water, Stay at Sea
Sharks sink in fresh water because their oily livers are not suited to float in those situations, a new study shows. Five percent of all sharks spend part of their time in freshwater environments, but these sharks are less buoyant than their marine relatives.
Sea Turtles Can Follow Magnetic Fields to Find Home
Adult sea turtles use magnetic fields to guide their way across oceans, a new study shows. Sea turtles regularly make thousand-mile migrations across oceans.
Ocean Life Facing Mass Extinction: Study
The ocean may be on the brink of a mass extinction, a new study shows. Human activities such as oil drilling, fish farming, and pollution are devastating the ocean's life.
Feeling Cold Is Contagious: Study
Looking at people who are cold can actually make the observer cold. A new study explores the empathetic reaction caused by seeing someone else shiver.
Searching Icy Waters for Antibiotics: Can the Arctic Help Fight Antibiotic-Resistance?
With antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the rise, scientists are looking to new sources to fight these bacteria. One team, PharmaSea, thinks the solution might lie deep in the Arctic Ocean.
Contracting Muscle Grown in Lab for the First TIme
A team of engineers at Duke University has created the world's first human-made human muscle that can respond to stimuli. The muscle tissue can contract when exposed to electric and chemical stimuli.
Latest Exoplanet-Hunter Brought to Life in Chile
A new array of telescopes set to detect exoplanets launched today. The NGTS mission is located at the ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile.
Potential Toxic Leak at Space Station Prompts Evacuation, Crew Safe
Earlier today, NASA reported a possible ammonia leak on the ISS. We now know that all astronauts aboard the station are safe, and that there may not have been a leak.
Floating Marine Debris Can Be Deadly for Cetaceans
Plastic debris is deadly to cetaceans, new research shows. Up to 22 percent of whales, dolphins and porpoises who swallow plastic face increased risk of death.
What Do Religious Experiences Look Like in the Brain?
What do the brains of religious Mormons look like during prayer? The scientists behind the Religious Brain Project hope to learn more about the neuroscience of religion by having Mormons pray in an MRI machine.
Scientists Create Effective Nicotine Vaccine to Help Smokers Quit
A team of scientists working on a nicotine vaccine improved their success by taking the handedness of nicotine into account. The researchers found that by focusing on the left-handed form of nicotine rather than both left and right forms, they could increase antibody production by as much as 40 percent.
Adorable Baby Orphan Bats Wrapped in Blankets Are Impossible Not to Love
Watch an adorable video of baby bats being swaddled. These bats were orphaned recently during an extreme heat event in Australia, but they were taken in by the Australian Bat Clinic.
Hospitals Dramatically Reducing Amount of Drug Mix Ups and Infections
A new study shows that there was a 17 percent reduction in hospital errors from 2010 to 2013. However, the overall rate of mistakes made by hospitals is still 10 percent, which is "too high," the report says.
Can Scientists Explain Sleep to 11-Year-Olds? Alan Alda Poses New Flame Challenge Question
Alan Alda challenges scientists to answer "What is sleep?" in a way that excites 11-year-olds. This is part of Alda's yearly Flame Challenge contest.
The Vast Legacy of Alan Turing
A new movie based on Alan Turing was released in the US recently. The "Imitation Game" focuses on Turing's code breaking during World War II, one of his many accomplishments.
How Did Asteroids Affect Life on Earth? Hayabusa 2 Mission to Look for Answers
The Hayabusa 2 mission will study a carbonaceous chondrite asteroid for clues about the formation of life on Earth. This mission picks up where the original Hayabusa mission left off.
Skip Over Scooters on the Christmas List: It's the Leading Cause of Toy-Related Injuries
Razor scooters and other foot-powered scooters are the highest toy-related cause of injury in children, a new study shows. If you get your child a scooter for Christmas this year, use safety precautions like a helmet, the authors of the study recommend.
Bay Area Bans Wood Burning For a Day
The Bay Area is holding a Spare the Air day today on Wednesday, November 26. On Spare the Air days, the burning of wood and other solid fuel is banned for 24 hours.
Gray Seals Behind Porpoise Massacres, Scientists Warn
Gray seals killed thousands of harbor porpoises off the coast of the Netherlands and other areas, researchers say. Scientists are now warning humans against swimming with the cute, but deadly, seals.
Nor'Easter May Ruin Thanksgiving Travel Plans
Travel through the northeast may stall this Thanksgiving with a northeaster expected. Leave early if you can to avoid the storm, meteorologists suggest.
FDA Game Changer: Calorie Count Required on All Menus
New FDA rulings say that every chain selling food at over 20 locations will have to list calories on menu items. The ruling will affect movie theaters, pizzerias, and even vending machines.
Why Are Dogs Sloppier Than Cats? There's a Scientific Explanation
Dogs are naturally messier drinkers than cats. The way dogs use their tongues splashes water, and the heavier the dog the more water it will splash, researchers show.
What's Worse, Carbs or Saturated Fats? You May Be Surprised
A new study shows that saturated fats may be more beneficial than carbohydrates. A diet high in carbohydrates but low in saturated fats was associated with increased levels of a fatty acid associated with diabetes.
How is Farm Crop Production Linked to Annual Carbon Dioxide Increase? More Than You Think
Farming causes large seasonal fluctuations in carbon dioxide levels, a new study shows. Innovations in agriculture have led to a larger human impact on the environment.
Scientists Find Evidence of Ancient Landslide That May Have Been Largest on Earth
A giant landslide occurred in Utah 21 million years ago. This may turn out to be the largest known landslide on Earth.
Is Cannabis Extract an Effective Treatment for Brain Cancer?
A new study shows that using marijuana in conjunction with radiation is much more effective at reducing aggressive brain tumors than radiation alone. This continues previous research showing that marijuana can have anti-cancer properties.
CERN Scientists Discover Two Subatomic Particles That Were Once Only Predicted to Exist
Data from the Large Hadron Collider has revealed two new sub-atomic particles. Scientists at CERN identified two new baryon particles.
Winter's a Bit Too Early This Year: Yesterday was Coldest November Morning in Almost 40 Years
November 18 was the coldest morning on record on average in the United States since 1976, almost 40 years ago. The continental 48 states hit an average temperature of 19.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Premature Birth is the Leading Killer of Young Children, Study Reveals
Premature birth is now a leading cause of death in children worldwide. A new study shows that in 2013, premature birth surpassed individual infectious diseases as the cause for death in infants and young children.
