Cancer research in the U.S. doesn’t rely on a single institution or funding stream − it’s a complex ecosystem made up of interdependent parts: academia, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology startups, federal agencies and private foundations. As a cancer biologist[1] who has worked in each of these sectors over the past three decades,...
Granular systems, such as sandpiles or rockslides, are all around you − new research will help scientists describe how they work
Did you eat cereal this morning? Or have you walked on a gravel path? Maybe you had a headache and had to take a pill? If you answered any of these questions with a yes, you interacted with a granular system today.
Scientists classify any collection of small, hard particles – such as puffed rice, sand grains or pills – as a...
How does soap keep you clean? A chemist explains the science of soap
Curious Kids[1] is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [2]. How does soap clean our bodies? – Charlie H., age 8, Stamford, Connecticut Thousands of years ago, our ancestors discovered something that would clean their bodies and clothes.
... Colors are objective, according to two philosophers − even though the blue you see doesn’t match what I see
Is your green my green[1]? Probably not. What appears as pure green to me will likely look a bit yellowish or blueish to you. This is because visual systems vary from person to person. Moreover, an object’s color may appear differently[2] against different backgrounds or under different lighting.
These facts might naturally lead you to...