http://discovermagazine.com Science, Technology, and The Future http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-the-science-of-obamas-fly-swatting http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-the-science-of-obamas-fly-swatting When Obama swatted a fly on national television, the media went wild. So how exactly did the president overcome the fly's impressive perceptual strengths? Through a combination of strategy, quick reflexes, and an evolutionary advantage. Allison Bond http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-the-science-of-obamas-fly-swatting/key_image Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:55:00 -0500 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:55:00 -0500 Web Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/05-questions-from-fossils-in-rocks-to-stadium-rock http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/05-questions-from-fossils-in-rocks-to-stadium-rock Gregory Erickson studies the life cycles of dinosaurs and teaches concert-like classes. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/05-questions-from-fossils-in-rocks-to-stadium-rock/key_image Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:00:00 -0500 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:00:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-game-theory-meets-darwin http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-game-theory-meets-darwin A computer simulation correctly predicts that ravens should have evolved a behavior called "gang foraging." How did researchers see this behavior? They tracked ravens by implanting carcasses with different-colored beads that the birds ingested and later coughed up. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-game-theory-meets-darwin/key_image Fri, 22 May 2009 12:40:00 -0500 Fri, 22 May 2009 12:40:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-a-shad-situation http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-a-shad-situation The population of American shad rebounded in the 1990s but is again on the wane. Darlene Cavalier http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-a-shad-situation/key_image Sun, 17 May 2009 10:10:00 -0500 Sun, 17 May 2009 10:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/11-a-scientists-guide-to-finding-alien-life http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/11-a-scientists-guide-to-finding-alien-life A variety of new findings point to the "habitable zones" where we're likely to find extraterrestrials. Adam Frank http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/11-a-scientists-guide-to-finding-alien-life/key_image Mon, 11 May 2009 07:35:00 -0500 Mon, 11 May 2009 07:35:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/06-what-is-this-stony-bloody-battlefield http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/06-what-is-this-stony-bloody-battlefield Hint: It's related to the rose and can put the "white" back in your pearly whites. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/06-what-is-this-stony-bloody-battlefield/key_image Wed, 06 May 2009 11:05:00 -0500 Wed, 06 May 2009 11:05:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/04-can-giant-robots-successfully-mine-the-mile-deep-seafloor http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/04-can-giant-robots-successfully-mine-the-mile-deep-seafloor Nautilus Minerals bet $266 million on being able to extract valuable minerals through underwater mining. After they seemingly overcame the engineering challenge, it's the economic collapse that threatens the long-held dream. Robert Kunzig http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/04-can-giant-robots-successfully-mine-the-mile-deep-seafloor/key_image Mon, 04 May 2009 11:20:00 -0500 Mon, 04 May 2009 11:20:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/01-the-biocentric-universe-life-creates-time-space-cosmos http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/01-the-biocentric-universe-life-creates-time-space-cosmos Stem-cell guru Robert Lanza presents a radical new view of the universe and everything in it. Robert Lanza and Bob Berman http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/01-the-biocentric-universe-life-creates-time-space-cosmos/key_image Fri, 01 May 2009 20:50:00 -0500 Fri, 01 May 2009 20:50:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/25-what-is-this-piece-of-rainbow-rock http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/25-what-is-this-piece-of-rainbow-rock Hint: To forensic technicians it's a valuable timer; to medical doctors it's a defense against infection. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/25-what-is-this-piece-of-rainbow-rock/key_image Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:05:00 -0500 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:05:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/12-birds-used-big-brains-outlast-dinosaurs http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/12-birds-used-big-brains-outlast-dinosaurs The ancestors of modern birds seemed to have sophisticated hearing—and perhaps other sharp faculties, as well. Emily Anthes http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/12-birds-used-big-brains-outlast-dinosaurs/key_image Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:55:00 -0500 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:55:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/06-diamonds-are-geologist.s-best-friend http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/06-diamonds-are-geologist.s-best-friend Tiny carbon spheres hidden under rock and ice may be telltales of cataclysmic comet strikes. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/06-diamonds-are-geologist.s-best-friend/key_image Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:25:00 -0500 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:25:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/30-strange-forests-that-drink-eat-fog http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/30-strange-forests-that-drink-eat-fog Researchers have discovered that fog, originating offshore from some of the richest ocean waters on the planet, arrives in fog forests around the world bearing essential fertilizing nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and sulfur. Michael Tennesen http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/30-strange-forests-that-drink-eat-fog/key_image Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:40:00 -0500 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:40:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/27-jack-horner.s-plan-bring-dinosaurs-back-to-life http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/27-jack-horner.s-plan-bring-dinosaurs-back-to-life The trick is to run the tape of evolution over again: to intervene in the development of a chicken embryo, for instance, to reverse evolution, rolling back the clock to manifest earlier patterns of gene expression. But why stop at one developmental process? Why not grow an entire dinosaur from a bird egg? Jack Horner and James Gorman http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/27-jack-horner.s-plan-bring-dinosaurs-back-to-life/key_image Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:40:00 -0500 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:40:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/22-new-theory-about-why-sleep-maintain-immune-system http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/22-new-theory-about-why-sleep-maintain-immune-system New study shows that mammals that sleep more have more immune cells and fewer parasites. Amy Barth http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/22-new-theory-about-why-sleep-maintain-immune-system/key_image Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:40:00 -0500 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:40:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/19-how-to-tell-if-you.re-poisoning-yourself-with-fish http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/19-how-to-tell-if-you.re-poisoning-yourself-with-fish Researchers are creating genetic tests to determine if mercury hiding in that "healthy" dinner could be messing with your brain. David Ewing Duncan; photograph by Kathrin Miller http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/19-how-to-tell-if-you.re-poisoning-yourself-with-fish/key_image Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:50:00 -0500 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:50:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/12-finder-of-secret-gorillas http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/12-finder-of-secret-gorillas Biologist Emma Stokes protects endangered animals in far-off countries. Boonsri Dickinson http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/12-finder-of-secret-gorillas/key_image Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0500 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/05-close-look-original-information-superhighway http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/05-close-look-original-information-superhighway A detailed microscope image shows the complicated structure of a fish's nervous system. http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/05-close-look-original-information-superhighway/key_image Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:30:00 -0600 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:30:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/28-a-glow-below http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/28-a-glow-below Fluorescent coral captured on film Amy Barth http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/28-a-glow-below/key_image Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:20:00 -0600 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:20:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/feb/best-new-science-books http://discovermagazine.com/2009/feb/best-new-science-books Neil deGrasse Tyson, Area 51, modern life vs human nature, and more http://discovermagazine.com/2009/feb/best-new-science-books/key_image Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:05:00 -0600 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:05:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/19-dna-agrees-with-all-the-other-science-darwin-was-right http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/19-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 Pamela Weintraub; photographs by Saverio Truglia http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/19-dna-agrees-with-all-the-other-science-darwin-was-right/key_image Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:15:00 -0600 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:15:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/15-first-pre-school-animals-learning-before-birth http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/15-first-pre-school-animals-learning-before-birth Sure, baby animals learn fast, but can they learn as early as the womb? Now we have an answer, thanks to new research that shows some astounding results. Amy Barth http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/15-first-pre-school-animals-learning-before-birth/key_image Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:20:00 -0600 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:20:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/11-we-all-live-in-darwins-world http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/11-we-all-live-in-darwins-world “Survival of the fittest” is helping us understand not only the origin of species but also love, politics, and even the cosmos. Karen Wright http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/11-we-all-live-in-darwins-world/key_image Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:15:00 -0600 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:15:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/10-six-sites-that-are-the-galapagos-for-modern-darwins http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/10-six-sites-that-are-the-galapagos-for-modern-darwins Researchers see amazing twists of evolution at the biological hot spots. Linda Marsa http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/10-six-sites-that-are-the-galapagos-for-modern-darwins/key_image Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:15:00 -0600 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:15:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/05-what-is-this-a-windshields-worst-nightmare http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/05-what-is-this-a-windshields-worst-nightmare It may look like a worthless rock, but it can be encrusted with diamonds or used to find black gold. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/05-what-is-this-a-windshields-worst-nightmare/key_image Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:30:00 -0600 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:30:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/04-discover-does-darwin http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/04-discover-does-darwin The future of Homo sapiens, genetic proof of evolution, the next Galapagos, and more. http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/04-discover-does-darwin/key_image Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:10:00 -0600 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:10:00 -0600 Print Article