March 2009

The World's Hardest-Working Telescope

By precisely mapping a volume of space 5 billion light-years in diameter, the Sloan telescope is answering some of the universe's biggest questions.

by Michael Lemonick

More


March

Departments

20 Things You Didn't Know About... Time

The beginning, the end, and the funny habits of our favorite ticking force.
 by LeeAundra Temescu

The Kilogram Isn't What It Used to Be—It's Lighter

Within a high-security, climate-controlled vault in France, the perfect kilogram is getting ever so slightly less massive—and no one knows why.
 by Dava Sobel

4 Pieces of Crave-able AV Gear

From a killer $16,000 TV to devices that might finally bring the Internet to your living room

Sustainable Architecture Takes Cues From the Original Green: Nature

Glass that "breathes" like gills, solar cells that imitate leaves, and other biomimetic technologies
 by Blaine Brownell

When Stubbornness in a Physician Nearly Proves Fatal

by Tony Dajer

Visual Science: A Glow Below

Fluorescent coral captured on film
 by Amy Barth

LEDs Light Times Square, But Can They Light Your Office?

A bigger, better diode could bring LED lighting to the mainstream.
 by Stephen Cass

DNA Agrees With All the Other Science: Darwin Was Right

Molecular biologist Sean Carroll shows how evolution happens, one snippet of DNA at a time
 by Pamela Weintraub; photographs by Saverio Truglia

Is Patriotism a Subconscious Way for Humans to Avoid Disease?

We're not very aware of the “behavioral immune system,” but it may push us toward life-saving behaviors.
 by Carl Zimmer

Visual Science: The Rocket That Could Save Astronauts' Lives

NASA's Orion space capsule features a new escape clause.
 by Jennifer Barone

Geeks, Sociopaths, and God: The Hottest Books in Science

What should you be reading? Check out DISCOVER's latest book list.

Dams, From Hoover to Three Gorges to the Crumbling Ones

by Jeremy Jacquot

What is This? A Windshield's Worst Nightmare Come True?

It may look like a worthless rock, but it can be encrusted with diamonds or used to find black gold.
 by Andrew Grant

Are You There, E.T.? It's Me, Maggie

Astrobiologist Maggie Turnbull gets paid by NASA to search for alien life.
by Amy Barth; Photography by David Ellis