Comets 101 − everything you need to know about the snow cones of space

Comet Hale-Bopp was visible from Earth in 1997. E. Kolmhofer, H. Raab; Johannes-Kepler-Observatory, Linz, Austria, CC BY-NC Shannon Schmoll, Michigan State University When you hear the word comet, you might imagine a bright streak moving across the sky. You may have a family member who saw a comet before you were born, or you may […]

Spicy food might burn in the moment, but it likely won’t harm your health in the long term

Many cultures integrate hot peppers into traditional dishes. AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File Paul D. Terry, University of Tennessee Everyone has a different tolerance for spicy food — some love the burn, while others can’t take the heat. But the scientific consensus on whether spicy food can have an effect — positive or negative — […]


Major Medical Discoveries That Happened By Mistake: The Power of Serendipity

In the world of medical innovation, where countless hours and billions of dollars are invested annually, the power of serendipity often shines through. While deliberate research drives progress, some of the most remarkable medical discoveries have occurred entirely by accident. Here is a compilation of major medical breakthroughs that happened while pursuing entirely different objectives.

Why Are Useless Decongestants Still on Shelves?

If you’ve ever reached for an over-the-counter decongestant in the past couple of decades, there’s a good chance it contained phenylephrine as its primary active ingredient. But here’s the catch: Phenylephrine doesn’t work any better than a placebo. So, why is it still available for sale? Vox’s Phil Edwards delves into this perplexing issue in […]

How a disgruntled scientist looking to prove his food wasn’t fresh discovered radioactive tracers and won a Nobel Prize 80 years ago

George De Hevesy working in his lab at Stockholm University in 1944. Keystone Features/Hulton Archive via Getty Images Artemis Spyrou, Michigan State University; Katharina Domnanich, Michigan State University, and Sean Liddick, Michigan State University Each October, the Nobel Prizes celebrate a handful of groundbreaking scientific achievements. And while many of the awarded discoveries revolutionize the […]

Chick Embryo Neurons Time-Lapse Video Wins Nikon Small World in Motion Competition

In a triumph of scientific artistry, a 48-hour time-lapse film showcasing the development of neurons in the central nervous system of a chick embryo has emerged as the grand winner in the prestigious Nikon Small World in Motion video competition. Filmed by Alexandre Dumoulin of the University of Zurich, Switzerland, this captivating footage offers a […]

Cell death is essential to your health − an immunologist explains when cells decide to die with a bang or take their quiet leave

Programmed cell death such as apoptosis is a common stage of cellular life. Nanoclustering/Science Photo Library via Getty Images Zoie Magri, Tufts University Living cells work better than dying cells, right? However, this is not always the case: your cells often sacrifice themselves to keep you healthy. The unsung hero of life is death. While […]