The human brain contains approximately 87 billion neurons[1]. On average, each of these cells make thousands of different connections to facilitate communication across the brain. Neural communication is thought to underlie all brain functions – from
From thousands to millions to billions to trillions to quadrillions and beyond: Do numbers ever end?
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]. Why don’t numbers end? – Reyhane, age 7, Tehran, Iran Here’s a game: Ask a friend to
The hidden risk of letting AI decide – losing the skills to choose for ourselves
As artificial intelligence creeps further into people’s daily lives, so do worries about it. At the most alarmist are concerns about AI going rogue[1] and terminating its human masters.
But behind the calls for a pause on the development of AI[2] is a
A young Black scientist discovered a pivotal leprosy treatment in the 1920s − but an older colleague took the credit
Hansen’s disease, also called leprosy[1], is treatable today – and that’s partly thanks to a curious tree and the work of a pioneering young scientist in the 1920s. Centuries prior to her discovery, sufferers had no remedy for leprosy’s debilitating
Personalized cancer treatments based on testing drugs quickly leads to faster treatment, better outcomes
Despite many efforts to find better, more effective ways to treat cancer, it remains a leading cause of death by disease[1] among children in the U.S.
Cancer patients are also getting younger. Cancer diagnoses among those under 50 has risen by about 80%
Newly discovered genetic variant that causes Parkinson’s disease clarifies why the condition develops and how to halt it
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative movement disorder that progresses relentlessly[1]. It gradually impairs a person’s ability to function until they ultimately become immobile and often develop dementia. In the U.S. alone, over a million people are
Using research to solve societal problems starts with building connections and making space for young people
Often, when scientists do research around a specific societal challenge, they hope their work will help solve that larger problem. Yet translating findings into long-lasting, community-driven solutions is much harder than most expect.
It seems intuitive that