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Author Interviews
'Noble Savages': A Journey To Break The Mold Of Anthropology
February 16, 2013 In 1964, Napoleon Chagnon did what few other anthropologists had ever done: He went to the Amazon to study an isolated tribe. His findings cast him out from his profession as a heretic.
Shots - Health News
What Nuclear Bombs Tell Us About Our Tendons
February 15, 2013 The fallout from Cold War bomb tests is shedding light on why the Achilles tendon heals so poorly after injuries. By looking at carbon-14, scientists have found that tendon tissue in people who were alive during the tests hasn't changed much since they were youngsters.
Superstorm Sandy: Before, During And Beyond
After Sandy, Not All Sand Dunes Are Created Equal
February 15, 2013 In New Jersey, thousands of discarded Christmas trees have dodged the wood chipper and hit the beach instead. They're being used to jump-start new dunes, but scientists warn that these man-made dunes could be less sturdy than dunes that form naturally.
The Two-Way
Is Russia Marked For Meteors?
February 15, 2013 Friday's major meteor strike is the third such incident to hit Russia in just over a century. Coincidence?
Shots - Health News
Don't Count On Extra Weight To Help You In Old Age
February 15, 2013 The notion that being a little overweight could help people in old age is being challenged. Some of the studies in support of the so-called obesity paradox excluded people who lived in institutions, like nursing homes, or were too sick to participate, a critic says.
Krulwich Wonders...
A Crazy But Rational Solution To Our Electoral College Problem
February 15, 2013 On three different occasions, the candidate with the most votes didn't become president of the United States. We call this "The Electoral College Problem." Here a solution. Simple. Mathematical. Rational. (With one small "but ...")
Shots - Health News
Darkness Provides A Fix For Kittens With Bad Vision
February 14, 2013 Kittens regained sight in a blind eye after being plunged into darkness for 10 days. Researchers say that prolonged darkness may reset the brain to an earlier stage of development, allowing the kittens to recover their vision.
Shots - Health News
Traces Of Anxiety Drugs May Make Fish Act Funny
February 14, 2013 Small amounts of the drugs that people take end up in wastewater and then in streams and rivers. It's usually not enough to harm the health of humans who swim in or drink the water. But there is growing evidence that pharmaceuticals in wastewater may affect wildlife.
Animals
With Brawls And Calls, Love Is In The Air For Elephant Seals
February 14, 2013 It's the peak of the elephant seal mating season on the California coast. That means the SUV-sized, 4,000-pound males duke it out for a chance to mate.