Uncategorized Articles

Lasers of a feather

By Stephen Ornes / June 1, 2011
Tiny air bubbles in the feathers of the cotinga bird (illustrated) scatter light, giving the plumage its bright blue color.

A nifty light trick in bird feathers inspires researchers to create a new kind of laser

Posted in Technology & Engineering, Uncategorized | Tagged

Supersizing pumpkins

By Alexandra Witze / October 29, 2010
Chris Stevens’ record-breaking pumpkin weighs 1,810.5 pounds, shown here with New York Botanical Garden staff. Scientists now think they understand how pumpkins like this one can grow to enormous sizes without splitting apart.

Engineers model extreme growth in fruits

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Minimachines that move without batteries

By Stephen Ornes / October 18, 2010

Chemistry powers tiny tools that have big potential

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Scientist Profile: Wally Gilbert

By Roberta Kwok / March 30, 2010
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Wally Gilbert is interested in just about everything. He began by studying physics and then switched to biology, eventually winning an Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award in 1979 and then a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1980.

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Earthquake shortens the day

By Stephen Ornes / March 22, 2010

The recent South American quake sent Earth spinning just a big faster

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Traveling tuna

By Susan Gaidos / October 22, 2008

Young Atlantic bluefin tuna swim the sea from coast to coast

Posted in Animals, Uncategorized