Stories by Charles Q. Choi

Simulations suggest Venus could have once harbored seas of supercritical carbon dioxide

A single genetic mutation 10 million years ago endowed human ancestors with an enhanced ability to break down ethanol, likely as they shifted to a terrestrial lifestyle

Artists invented illusions hundreds and sometimes thousands of years ago. Today we capitalize on those lessons and apply them to new technologies and formats

New research shows that magnetic fields played a role in the solar system's formation

The early moon was more dynamic than scientists previously thought

Apollo astronauts hopped across the moon because of their stiff suits, not because of low lunar gravity

The magnitude 8.2 quake that struck Chile in April was smaller than the major temblor that researchers are anticipating

Jealousy appears to be a primordial emotion seen not only in humans, but in other animals as well

Move over, invisibility cloaks. There's a structure that can keep objects from being felt or jostled

A new genetic analysis shows that flightless birds, or ratites, did not evolve from a common flightless ancestor as had been previously thought

The 180-million-year-old fossils suggest that shallow-water animals may have originated from deep-sea ancestors

Computer models suggest that plant-eating dinosaurs called therizinosaurs used their claws for digging, grasping or piercing plants

Bite marks on fossils coupled with an analysis of skull strength suggests that crocodilians were capable of using "death rolls" to dismember prey

The long-term consequences of such epigenetic effects in children remain unknown, but the goal is to define the optimal diet for mothers-to-be

Analysis of an ancient thylacinid's skeleton suggests that the marsupial had a very powerful bite despite its small size
 

Scientists have never before seen this method of cell killing

Engineers achieve the difficult task of transmitting acoustic waves in only one direction

A medical trauma in microgravity presents a unique set of problems. A sealed dome could isolate a wound to prevent blood droplets from drifting into a victim’s eyes, nose and throat as well as allow an unobstructed view during medical treatment

The combination of solar wind and interplanetary dust may have contributed some of Earth's water

The achievement suggests that 3-D printing might soon be mature enough for people to manufacture complete devices on demand

A magnitude-8.3 earthquake that struck deep between Russia and Japan on May 24 released most of its energy in four major shocks, all within 30 seconds, rather than within days or weeks

The material, called stanene, could in theory mimic the properties of a room-temperature superconductor