“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” — Ben Franklin Kids are born scientists. They ask great questions, and as Ben Franklin—one of the original "scientific Americans"—pointed out so eloquently, we should foster their efforts to learn the answers firsthand. One such opportunity is the Google Science Fair. This international online competition, launched in 2010, drew more than 7,000 entries last year from inquiring young minds located in 91 countries; the fair has three age categories, for teens from 13 to 18. I was a finalist judge and master of ceremonies for the amazing awards event in July 2011. The grand prizewinner, Shree Bose, won $50,000 for her work in improving a cancer therapy [see "Her Summer ... Continue reading →

AnnouncingIcarus at the Edge of TimeTake a whirlwind voyage through space and time during this stunning multimedia performance that pits an adventurous boy against the awesome might of a black hole.More » World PremiereCoral: ReKindling VenusCelebrate the once-in-a-lifetime transit of Venus across the Sun as the Hayden Planetarium's dome is transformed into a stunning underwater realm of fluorescent coral reefs and exotic sea creatures.More » Youth and FamilyScience-on-Site: Brooklyn Bridge Park Join adventurous scientists for a day of family-friendly exploration in one of the city’s most dynamic parks, and then cap off the day with an unforgettable evening of stargazing.More » NeutrinosSeeing the UnseenHow do you detect a particle that could pass through light years of lead with more ease than a hot knife through ... Continue reading →

Extreme Tech | Technology Shooting beyond the Moon: "Part-Time" Scientists Aim to Develop Autonomous Rover to Compete for Lunar X PRIZE A 100-member team of experts aims to develop quick-response rover technology they hope will alter the way robots explore the moon and beyond By Larry Greenemeier | May 23, 2012 ASIMOV: Team Part-Time Scientists are developing Asimov to roam the lunar landscape autonomously, that is, after they navigate the rover the required 500 meters to win the Google Lunar X PRIZE. Image: Courty of Part-Time Scientists Some people try to make the most of their spare time by exercising, volunteering or simply recharging their batteries. Others like to use that time to build robots that can be blasted to the moon and then set ... Continue reading →

Twitter uses the t.co domain as part of a service to protect users from harmful activity, to provide value for the developer ecosystem, and as a quality signal for surfacing relevant, interesting Tweets. Back to Twitter Learn more Continue reading →

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.Testing Treatments, 2nd editionBetter Research for Better HealthcareImogen Evans, Hazel Thornton, Iain Chalmers, and Paul Glasziou.Copyright © 2011 Imogen Evans, Hazel Thornton, Iain Chalmers and Paul Glasziou.Evans I, Thornton H, Chalmers I, et al. Testing Treatments: Better Research for Better Healthcare. 2nd edition. London: Pinter & Martin; 2011. How do we know whether a particular treatment really works? How reliable is the evidence? And how do we ensure that research into medical treatments best meets the needs of patients? These are just a few of the questions addressed in a lively and informative way in Testing Treatments. Brimming with vivid examples, Testing Treatments will inspire both patients and professionals.Building on the success ... Continue reading →

We’ve long understood black holes to be the points at which the universe as we know it comes to an end. Often billions of times more massive than the Sun, they... By Caleb Scharf Related Article: Terrific Advance Praise for Gravity's Engines Showcasing more than fifty of the most provocative, original, and significant online essays from 2011, The Best Science Writing Online 2012 will change the way... By Bora Zivkovic, Jennifer Ouellette In this groundbreaking adventure into the worlds of psychopaths, the renowned psychologist Kevin Dutton argues that there is a fine line between a brilliant... By Kevin Dutton How does a Venus flytrap know when to snap shut? Can it actually feel an insect’s tiny, spindly legs? And how do cherry blossoms know when ... Continue reading →