Can Zapping Your Brain Really Make You Smarter?
Early scientific results on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) show promise, but are they enough to support a multi-billion-dollar industry?
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dates Back to the 1900s
Tofu turkey was created in 1990, but some Americans celebrated Thanksgiving with veggie dishes over a century ago.
An Early Review of On the Origin of Species
"Darwin openly and almost scornfully repudiates the whole doctrine of Final Causes. He finds no indication of design or purpose anywhere..."
How Much Would You Pay for a Nonexistent Dress?
Not too long ago, digital-only clothing might have been decried as a scam. But our "extended selves" are increasingly invested in virtual goods.
Who Really Discovered How the Heart Works?
For centuries, the voice of the Greek doctor Galen, who held that blood is produced in the liver and filtered through tiny pores in the heart, went unchallenged.
What Happened to Tagging?
Tags decentralized and democratized the organization of information. What became of "social tagging?"
A History of Human Waste as Fertilizer
In eighteenth century Japan, human excrement played a vital role in agriculture. Can similar solutions help manage waste today?
Beware Marine Heatwaves
Marine heatwaves are becoming stronger and more common as the climate warms.
Everything You Wanted to Know about Hazelnuts but Were Afraid to Ask
For one thing, there are several species of hazelnuts, including a couple native to North America.
New York City Bans Foie Gras
The practice of eating fatty goose livers dates back to at least 2500 BCE. Is there a humane way to produce it?