Friday, 25 May, 2012

Biology operates on the nanometer scale, and now ultra-small technology is producing monster benefits for genetic analysis, cell biologists, and the treatment of blinding glaucoma.

What you can’t see can still interest you. Archeologists use radar, magnetic, electrical gizmos to see through the ground, find places to dig.

Test shows horrific math performance by U.S. students. What do mathematicians and educators say about teaching math? Are we near a resolution of the math wars? Is there one optimal way to teach math?

New technology in ground-based telescopes will give better picture of the universe and detect deadly asteroids.

Hubble Space Telescope is fixed, will add to history of discovery. Get a gander of galaxies, quasars, gamma ray sources, and other greatest hits of the greatest spyglass.

New research into alternative and complementary medicine shows effects of St. John’s wort, hypnosis and the placebo effect.

What is the secret of scientific creativity? What does it take to come up with the big discoveries? How do some institutions come up with more than their share of Nobels?

With more teachers trying to teach to the test, we ask whether standardized tests are a good thing. Do they ensure progress, or stifle creativity? What do the tests say about progress? And whatever happened in Texas?

What happens during the preparation and mounting of dinosaurs? What happened during the epic struggle over Sue, the queen of the T rexes? Can you do science with a jackhammer?

The dangers of fieldwork to natural and social scientists: Volcanoes, viruses, armed revolutionaries, wackos behind the wheel…