Imerman Angels, a cancer support organization based in Chicago, has “floods of volunteers,” according to John May, chairman of its board of directors and a long-time volunteer himself. “You can’t help but just get excited to get involved,” he said. These do-gooders are …
Read moreWhy do optical illusions occur? Your eyes generate a two-dimensional photo of the world, but your brain needs a three-dimensional understanding in order for you to act in the world. Your visual system is very good at figuring out the 3D world, but it’s also …
Read moreIn a post-war era when sleeplessness was prevalent, thalidomide was marketed to a world hooked on tranquilizers and sleeping pills. At the time, one out of seven Americans took them regularly. The demand for sedatives was even higher in some European markets, and the …
Read moreIn Aldous Huxley’s futuristic novel Brave New World (1932), human beings are selectively bred to be genetically perfect. Based on their genes, they are sorted into a caste system that defines their social hierarchy. While capturing the scientifically misguided notions …
Read moreFor many, dogs are man’s best friends. But for people with pet allergies, dogs and cats can be their worst enemies.
Still, many individuals whose noses resemble Old Faithful whenever Fido walks into the room are still able to keep pets in their homes …
Read moreHow life originated on earth is a question that people have pondered for ages. Theories abound, from those based on religious doctrine, to the purely scientific, to others that border on science fiction. One possibility that hovers on this border is the panspermia …
Read moreIn 1905, Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity, and his general theory of relativity was made public in 1915. For these accomplishments, he is often heralded as the most influential thinker of the 20th century and possibly in modern …
Read moreDinosaurs are to birds as humans are to apes. While that connection isn’t new, it helps scientists understand extinct animals, and tells them what that connection means in terms of evolution. “The real story is that over the last 10 years, we’ve gotten to understand …
Read moreSales of organic products have skyrocketed in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. People associate organic food with better health, local growers, lower pesticide levels, humane treatment of animals and sounder environmental practices. But the National Organic …
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