Printing Lucy
Researchers believe they’ve discovered how Lucy, a 3.2 million year old human relative, died. To convince others of their theory, the researchers released 3D scans of Lucy’s bones. In this Nature Video we 3D print Lucy’s bones to see for ourselves.
Why do blood types matter? – Natalie S. Hodge
It’s often said that despite humanity’s many conflicts, we all bleed the same blood. It’s a nice thought, but not quite accurate. In fact, our blood comes in a few different varieties. Natalie S. Hodge defines the four major blood types and sheds light on why some bloods can mix while others cannot. Lesson by […]
Why do our bodies age? – Monica Menesini
Human bodies aren’t built for extreme aging: our capacity is set at about 90 years. But what does aging really mean, and how does it counteract the body’s efforts to stay alive? Monica Menesini details the nine physiological traits that play a central role in aging. Lesson by Monica Menesini, animation by Cinematic.
What would happen if every human suddenly disappeared? – Dan Kwartler
Human beings are everywhere. With settlements on every continent, we can be found in the most isolated corners of Earth’s jungles, oceans and tundras. Our impact is so profound, most scientists believe humanity has left a permanent mark on Earth’s geological record. So what would happen if suddenly, every human on Earth disappeared? Dan Kwartler […]
How Photography Is Affecting Our Brains | Tech Effects | WIRED
We take millions of photographs. How are all of our snaps affecting our eyes, brains, and bodies? WIRED Senior Editor Peter Rubin looks at the ways that selfies can distort our self perception, shoots with a pro photographer, and examines the way that all those images are affecting our moods and memory.
Why Beautiful Things Make us Happy – Beauty Explained
It’s hard to define what makes something beautiful, but we seem to know beauty when we see it. Why is that and how does beauty affect our subconscious?
A brief history of dogs – David Ian Howe
Trace the history of how wolves, one of humanity’s oldest rivals, evolved into the domesticated dogs we call “man’s best friend.” — Since their emergence over 200,000 years ago, modern humans have established communities all over the planet. But they didn’t do it alone. Whatever corner of the globe you find humans in today, you’re […]
What happens to our bodies after we die? – Farnaz Khatibi Jafari
Since the dawn of humanity, an estimated 100.8 billion people have lived and died, a number that increases by about 0.8% of the world’s population each year. What happens to all of those peoples’ bodies after they die? And will the planet eventually run out of burial space? Farnaz Khatibi Jafari traces the evolution of […]
What Sensors Are in a Smartphone?
Smartphone sensors locate your phone in time and space. Working together, several sensors can paint a fairly complete picture of your daily activity, with implications for your privacy.
What Do Honeybees Do in Winter?
To survive the cold winter months, honeybees do something unusual: they hug.SHOW MORE
How Does the Color of a Glass Bottle Affect the Beer Inside?
Light triggers chemical reactions that make beer taste like skunk spray and onions.
Why can’t you divide by zero? – TED-Ed
In the world of math, many strange results are possible when we change the rules. But there’s one rule that most of us have been warned not to break: don’t divide by zero. How can the simple combination of an everyday number and a basic operation cause such problems? Lesson by TED-Ed, animation by Nick […]
What Happens If We Bring the Sun to Earth?
What happens if we bring the sun to earth? No, seriously.
Raindrops splash down on leaves, spread pathogens among plants
A team of researchers from MIT and the University of Liege, in Belgium, have shown through high-speed images of raindrops splashing down on leaves that raindrops can act as a dispersing agent of contaminated droplets from one plant to another. (More on this research at: http://bit.ly/1DdF2lB and http://lbourouiba.mit.edu)