The Strange Experiments of Henry Cavendish
Cavendish was an idiosyncratic scientist who conducted fascinating experiments, such as “weighing” the Earth and splitting water into its constituent elements.
Scientists vs. Animal Welfare Activists in the 1920s
The movement against vivisection—experiments involving live animals—swelled with women. A group of scientists was determined to stop them.
When Big Rewards Don’t Pay Off
One would think that offering potentially big rewards would inspire workers to create better work. A study found a more complicated picture.
When Scientists Perform Experiments on Themselves
More than one self-experiment has resulted in a Nobel Prize. Against all odds, and sometimes in spite of the damage they cause, these crazy gambits pay off.
The Ig Nobels: The Lighter Side of Scientific Research
What exactly are the Ig Nobels? And what can we learn from the Journal of Irreproducible Results and the Annals of Improbable Results?