By Subject - Arts & Humanities

  • Evidence of early-onset electrostatic compulsion?
    English is optional dep’t

    Must scientific literature be so darn murky? Do we really need clinkers like “biomedicine” and “astrolicism”? What if they just wrote English for a change? Join us for an entertaining tour of the dark side of the scientific enterprise!


    Monday, March 28th, 2011
  • Scraps of ancient textiles found
    Scraps of ancient textiles found

    Flax, the basis for linen, was spun and dyed, and lost in the mud. More than 30,000 years later, microscopic flax fibers provide the first cord in archeological history.


    Thursday, September 10th, 2009
  • The sounds of sax

    New study shows that controlling throat shape helps pro players hit the high notes that elude amateurs.


    Thursday, February 7th, 2008
  • Toddler’s “vocabulary explosion,” explained

    A toddler suddenly begins to learn 10 words a day. Does this reflect some innate genius for language, or could it have a less dramatic explanation? New research de-glamorizes the vocab explosion.


    Thursday, August 2nd, 2007
  • Lovable Loot: Vaunted Vase Heads “Home”

    Museum returns a priceless classic vase to Italy. What’s at the root of obtaining ancient loot? Where should we draw the line? Does it make sense for big museums to keep artifacts, or should it all go back to source countries?


    Thursday, February 9th, 2006
  • Old Is Beautiful. Ancient Script Found!

    Who invented writing in the New World? New find in Guatemala may give credit to the Mayans, even though this is probably not the first Mayan writing.


    Thursday, January 5th, 2006
  • Bookin’ science: Best of the batch.

    If (gasp!) the subject is too big for a Whyfile, hit the books. Here, we review four great science books, on evolution, environment, fighting nature, and discovering motherly love.


    Thursday, October 6th, 2005
  • Movies Show Scientists: What Do We Learn?

    A Beautiful Mind raises the issue: How are mathematicians and scientists portrayed in movies and film? We dig white coats on silver screens.


    Friday, January 11th, 2002
  • Violin Physics Explained

    How violins make sound. And why the ear is the world’s most sophisticated spectrum analyzer.


    Thursday, September 27th, 2001
  • Africa: Scientific Advances

    African science produces cancer drug, dust, rain and desertification and linguist Joseph Greenberg.


    Thursday, June 7th, 2001


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