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Here Be Dragons
They appear across times and cultures—and our fascination with them may have both evolutionary and paleontological origins
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Fossil Jaws a Sign of When Mammals Bounced Back
A new analysis of fossil beasts adds a new wrinkle to the story of when the Age of Mammals really took off
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The Real Reason Fans Hate the Last Season of Game of Thrones
It's not just bad storytelling—it’s because the storytelling style changed from sociological to psychological
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Obama restates commitment to health care, science
In his inaugural address today, Pres. Barack Obama underscored his campaign promises to reform health care and develop alternative energy. Here are some excerpts, from the prepared text:
“Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet … ...
Next-generation lunar rover to help fete Obama's inauguration
Tomorrow's inaugural parade in Washington, D.C., will offer space buffs a glimpse into the future: NASA's next-generation moon vehicle, the Lunar Electric Rover (LER), will roll down Pennsylvania Avenue to honor the incoming prez...
Obama's inauguration: Tech and enviro impact
Chomping at the bit to Twitter, text and make cell phone calls from tomorrow's inauguration? You might want to limit your expectations: telecom providers say they're expecting record wireless and Internet traffic in the nation's capital, and are asking mobile users to wait until after the big event to start tweeting and calling, lest their messages get delayed and their calls met by busy signals...
Scientists closing in on Earth-size exoplanets
An international consortium of researchers a few months ago reported what appeared to be the smallest planet yet detected orbiting a star other than our own sun.
Domestic violence victims have distinct facial injuries, study says
If doctors suspect a patient has been abused, they generally check for telltale signs, such as multiple injuries in various stages of healing. But new research suggests they may be missing an important clue: fractures around the eye or upper face...
Driver's med: Rearview mirror, sans the blind spot
A mathematician with a passion for optics has devised a rearview mirror that he says eliminates that bane of lane-changing, the blind spot. Andrew Hicks, an associate math professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, designed a convex driver's side mirror that gives a wide field of view without significantly distorting the reflected image...
Is Religion Adaptive? It’s Complicated
A group of Darwinian theorists discuss religion in Edinburgh, Scotland
Suspended animation
Editor's note: Marine geophysicist Robin Bell is leading an expedition to Antarctica to explore a mysterious mountain range beneath the ice sheet. Following is the eighteenth of her updates on the effort as part of ScientificAmerican.com's In-Depth Report on the "Future of the Poles."
AGAP SOUTH CAMP, ANTARCTICA—For much of the past two months, our collection of tents in the middle of East Antarctica has been buzzing with activity and nervous energy.
At the peak of our work, four hot meals were served every day...
Did bad weather kill, sicken California Brown Pelicans?
Bird experts suspect that California Brown Pelicans that have been mysteriously dying and turning up ill may have become sick and disoriented in a severe winter storm last month off the coast of Oregon that forced them to fly south in search of food and warmth...
FDA warning: Do not eat peanut butter products
Health officials yesterday advised consumers not to eat cookies, crackers, cereal, ice cream, candy or other products containing peanut butter that may have been contaminated with salmonella, which has sickened more than 470 people in 43 states and has been linked to six deaths...
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