today i learned (til)
A Spritz of Sperm Whale
When you think of perfume, what kinds of ingredients come to mind? Some people may think about flowery scents like rose, cherry blossom, or...
The Uncanny Valley – An Exploration of How Humans Perceive AI
Have you ever seen a humanoid design that looks just off? Whether it's the subtle placement of facial features, an abnormal glint in the...
How Science is Reinventing What it Means to “Stay Cool”
Introduction:
On a hot July day, what you wear to stay cool matters. There are common remedies to help you stay cool: wearing cotton and...
Misophonia: The Unofficial Common Neurobehavioral Disorder
For sure most people have already experienced some ‘disliking’ sounds before. For example, the emergency sirens, high-pitched yellings, public space noises, etc. What’s about...
Varicella-Zoster Strikes Again
I had chicken pox when I was 8 years old. This was before there was a vaccine for varicella zoster, the virus that causes...
Why Does Hot Water Freeze Faster?
PROFESSOR: Hello class! Welcome to “Advanced Application of Math and Logic in Natural Philosophy” class. Look to your left and look to your right....
Badass Biology: Toxoplasma gondii
Look, we humans are awesome. We own this planet. If we really wanted to, we could spill every barrel of oil we have into...
Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone
Before I moved away from Florida I never realized how much I depended on good weather to motivate me. I’d always believed that optimism...
Berkeley grads grow mushrooms for cash – legally!
Imagine you are in your last semester at college. You’ve done well academically, studied business, and you have a job offer lined up....
Bizzare Medical Treatments: Bayer Heroin
Bayer AG, a multibillion dollar, German pharmaceutical company is regarded as one of the leaders in its sector, producing mild painkillers such as Bayer...