Viruses are not alive. Or maybe they are alive. Or maybe they are somewhere on the edge of life, occupying a space that science has not yet defined. Just what is a virus, and why are they so much more effective during these winter months?
Read MoreIn 1964, Kitty Genovese was brutally murdered outside her apartment. Over a dozen of her neighbors heard her cries. Why did no one help her? It may seem that people are simply callous and apathetic, but social psychology has unlocked the true reason behind the inaction of groups during an emergency: The bystander effect.
Read MoreOn February 3rd, a paper was published revealing the species identity of a piece of meat that was served at the 47th Explorers Club Annual Dinner in 1951.
Read MoreDomestication is integral to our success as a global species, and one Russian scientist devised an ingenious experiment to test how this process may have happened. He hoped that by attempting to domesticate the red fox that he could better understand how wolves were domesticated into dogs tens of thousands of years ago.
Read MoreOn an average day, over half of all Americans will drink at least one cup of tea. The numbers are similar for daily coffee-drinkers, and certainly there must be some overlap of people that may drink both in one day (myself included). While the act of drinking a warm beverage itself can be soothing, many coffee and tea drinkers are after something a little more direct: Caffeine.
Read MoreIn Florida, state officials launched the fourth annual “Python Challenge” Burmese python hunt on January 16. The goal is simple: To remove as many Burmese pythons from the Everglades as possible. This may seem cruel, but it is vitally necessary for the ecosystem of the Everglades.
Read MoreWinter weather is on its way! Forecasts are calling for winter storms this weekend. Currently it looks like we might get up to 5 inches of snow around the Bruce Museum. This could be mixed with sleet or freezing rain, two of the other freezing foes of winter. The exact mix of precipitation we (and the rest of the East Coast) end up with depends on a lot of factors. Very specific conditions are required for snow, sleet, or freezing rain to occur and these conditions can change quickly. It can be hard to predict weather, but understanding the underlying science makes it easier.
Read MoreSelf-awareness. A lot of philosophy has been built up around this term. Self-awareness is the ability to recognize the self as distinct from the environment. It is having consciousness and knowledge of the self as an individual. Humans certainly have self-awareness and we are able to recognize our body, our feelings, and our thoughts as our own. A lingering question has pursued humanity for generations: Are we alone in our self-awareness on this world, or might other animals have a sense of self too?
Read MoreStories about animals and artifacts by scientists at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT
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