Science Friday

Science Friday

It's brain fun, for curious people. Science, technology, and other cool stuff.

Bats have a specialized thin skin that allows their wings to change when a muscle is activated with every beat cycle of the wings.

Researchers explore the fascinating biomechanics and neuroscience of bats

To get a true sense of wonder that surrounds the movement of bats, you just have to slow things down a little.

Researchers explore the fascinating biomechanics and neuroscience of bats
A close-up view of a male blue orchard bee, also known as Osmia lignaria. This type of bee, which is native to North America, is known to be one of the world's best pollinators.

Book creates buzz about native bees of North America

Book creates buzz about native bees of North America
Since the inception of commercial air travel, the insides of airplane cabins have been associated with a higher likelihood of catching a cold or other spreadable disease. New research has sought out to see if scientific facts back up those sentiments.

Study examines how diseases really spread during air travel

Study examines how diseases really spread during air travel
Contrary to classic depictions of a tyrannosaurus rex, paleoartist Gabriel Ugueto says that the massive carnivores likely were covered in small feathers on the top of their bodies.

Turns out, dinosaurs probably had feathers. This artist is using science to draw more accurate pictures.

Turns out, dinosaurs probably had feathers. This artist is using science to draw more accurate pictures.
Before the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, five states had "red flag" statutes called gun violence restraining orders. Recently, Florida became the six state to add the statute.

Researchers still struggle to get funding to study gun violence

Researchers still struggle to get funding to study gun violence
A group of panelists address an audience at the State of the Net Conference in January. The panel consists of (from left to right) Jason Kaplan, Hilary Swab Gawrilow, James Cross, Mercina Tillmann-Dick and Justin Herman.

Women look to make their voices heard in new space created by male-dominated blockchain boom

Blockchain has turned from a movement to an overall tech boom — or possibly a revolution. Yet the space containing blockchain pioneers is only made up of five percent women ... for now.

Women look to make their voices heard in new space created by male-dominated blockchain boom
Recent released information about Russians hacking into American power systems has raised several concerns about the overall security of the U.S. energy grid as a whole.

Can the US protect its power grid from hackers?

A group of hackers from Russia made headlines when it was able to shut down Ukraine's power grid in 2015. The US may be the next target.

Can the US protect its power grid from hackers?
Those who have the neurological condition synesthesia often automatically see colors when they hear music or see numbers or letters.

Study begins to reveal genetic ties behind a neurological phenomenon

When you listen to a song, you hear music ... but do you see an accompanying color with it?

Study begins to reveal genetic ties behind a neurological phenomenon
Grace Hopper sits behind the UNIVAC (universal automatic computer) keyboard in the early '60s. As a mathematician and rear admiral in the US Navy, she helped design the UNIVAC I and many other related systems.

New book sheds light on overlooked women pioneers who paved the way for today’s internet

Sure, you have heard of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. But what about Grace Hopper and Elizabeth Feinler?

New book sheds light on overlooked women pioneers who paved the way for today’s internet
The Shard stands 95 stories tall in the heart of London on the banks of the River Thames.

New book explains the secrets behind famous skyscrapers, other structures

There's a new book that may give you a new appreciation — or perspective — the next time you look up at a skyscraper.

New book explains the secrets behind famous skyscrapers, other structures
In 1908, New Zealand Parliament passed the Prevention of Quackery Act to defend against claims such as the one featured in this leaflet: "bile beans" that claimed to cure a vareity of ailments, including indigestion, headaches, pimples and sleeplessness.

New book looks at medical cures now considered 'quackery'

Have acne problems? Just rub your trouble area over a freshly dead person. At least that was once the way of thinking, as a new book explains.

New book looks at medical cures now considered 'quackery'
At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, ISS Expedition 22 crew members take a moment for photographs following a fit check of their Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft at the launch site’s integration facility in December 2009.

With private space competition on full boil, the ISS looks to find its place in next chapter of space habitation

With private space competition on full boil, the ISS looks to find its place in next chapter of space habitation

With private space competition on full boil, the ISS looks to find its place in next chapter of space habitation
The Tiangong-1 space station passes over the moon in this photo taken in September 2013. The station is scheduled to make a crash landing in Europe within the next few weeks.

Chinese space station likely to land in Europe in a few weeks

Scientists know that a Chinese space station will be re-entering the Earth's atmosphere within a couple of weeks. The exact time of that happening, though, is a little fuzzy.

Chinese space station likely to land in Europe in a few weeks
At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, ISS Expedition 22 crew members take a moment for photographs following a fit check of their Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft at the launch site’s integration facility in December 2009.

As the private space industry emerges, what's next for the International Space Station?

The International Space Station is coming up on 20 years since it was first launched. But what does its future hold in six more years?

As the private space industry emerges, what's next for the International Space Station?
 New artificial-intelligence-enabled algorithms have allowed video editors a whole new array of tools to make fake videos even more believable.

AI-based fake videos pose the latest threat to what we perceive as reality — and possibly our democracy

Can you spot a fake video from a real video? It may seem simple enough, but new technology is blurring the lines of reality at unprecedented levels.

AI-based fake videos pose the latest threat to what we perceive as reality — and possibly our democracy