http://discovermagazine.com Science, Technology, and The Future http://discovermagazine.com/2008/may/05-why-bogarts-kiss-is-your-kiss Neuroscientist Marco Iacoboni explains what we do know about mirror neurons, the supposed key to human empathy and understanding of others, and what we don’t know. Jocelyn Rice 2008-05-05T03:58:06Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/may/28-conquering-your-fears-one-synapse-at-a-time An experiment with mice reveals a chemical pattern in the brain that may provide the key to overcoming fear—and preserving memories forever. Orli Van Mourik 2008-04-28T03:18:53Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/may/25-how-much-do-chemicals-affect-our-health An environmental crusader takes on special interests and investigates the possible causes of autism, asthma, and attention deficit disorder. Linda Marsa; photography by Jesse Chehak 2008-04-25T05:36:09Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/apr/15-one-man.s-quest-to-heal-the-brain Brain trauma specialist Michael Mason's book describes his experiences treating brain injuries that leave patients permanently disabled. Jane Bosveld 2008-04-15T04:01:48Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/apr/10-you-just-readed-this-headline-correctly The half-life of an irregular verb is based on how popular a verb is: The more often it is used, the longer it will take to convert. For example, the verbs have and hold both have irregular forms in the past tense—had and held. Stephen Ornes 2008-04-10T03:32:09Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/apr/04-a-dose-of-human-kindness-now-in-chemical-form A test involving sharing money with strangers shows that the hormone oxytocin may increase generosity and enhance our ability to see others' viewpoints. Jennifer Barone 2008-04-04T06:41:36Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/apr/27-epileptic-seizures-strike-much-like-earthquakes Tools for predicting aftershocks could also work for seizures. Both systems involve “relaxation phenomena,” in which energy accumulated over a long period of time is discharged. Mark Anderson 2008-03-27T03:33:45Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/mar/14-how-the-heck-did-a-woman-become-fused-to-a-toilet-seat (Hard bones + soft tissue) x one month of immobility = extremely bad news Lizzie Buchen 2008-03-14T15:29:48Z Web Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/apr/13-science-says-war-is-over-now Recent research suggest that given adequate food, fuel, and gender equality, war may disappear. John Horgan 2008-03-24T11:58:14Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/feb/05-the-borderlin-whack-jobs-who-pioneered-psychoanalysis Felix Salten, the author of Bambi, wrote porn under an alias. Philosopher Otto Weininger “recommended a complete renunciation of sexuality even for propagation, published his magnum opus, and promptly committed suicide later that year.” Dean Christopher 2008-03-05T13:48:54Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/feb/20-deflating-the-bogus-insomnia-epidemic Who started the tall tale about this "epidemic," anyway? The Big Pharma-funded National Sleep Foundation, a dodgy polling firm working for a hotel chain, and some sensationalistic journalists. Bruno Maddox 2008-02-22T05:13:10Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/feb/19-the-cuckoo-surgeon-who-did-ice-pick-lobotomies The patient is unconscious; an ice pick protrudes from each eye socket. When the doctor steps back to take a photograph, one of the ice picks slips. The patient’s life ends in that instant. The doctor, unfazed, moves along to his next demonstration. Jocelyn Rice 2008-02-19T08:29:03Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/feb/hope-may-be-useless-against-cancer Forget what you thought about optimism: Psychologist James Coyne and his colleagues followed 1,093 adults, all of whom had advanced head and neck cancer. “We were surprised to find absolutely no relationship” between emotion and survival, Coyne says. Jennifer Barone 2008-02-11T04:26:36Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/feb/whatever-happened-to-subliminal-advertising New research suggests it can actually be quite effective. During the 200 presidential race, the Republican National Committee ran an ad attacking the policies of Al Gore in which the word "rats" briefly flashed on the screen... Stephen Ornes 2008-02-07T04:08:51Z Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2008/feb/if-osama.s-only-6-degrees-away-why-can.t-we-find-him A sociologist recently discovered that Stanley Milgram misinterpreted—intentionally or not—the data from the famous six degrees of separation study. “I still find one of the most interesting questions to be why people so much want to believe that we live in a global village, all holding hands.” Elizabeth DeVita–Raebu 2008-01-28T10:48:18Z Print Article