History of Science

From March 20-23, Atlanta attracted hundreds of people with diverse backgrounds who communicated in the lingua franca of Martin Gardner. Perhaps the last true polymath, Gardner has inspired so many people over the last five decades that they are almost compelled to seek each other out and share their latest discoveries.

New genome sequencing recommendation will enable patients to opt out of testing 

The man who piloted the first submersible to reach the deepest point in the ocean—in 1960—recounts the excitement and tension he experienced diving to 35,846 feet

Yet again, the world is cockahoop and head-over-heads in awe over another thrilling, dumbfounding, truly novel zoological discovery. No, I'm not talking about the discovery of suspension-feeding anomalocarids, ancient echolocating odontocete cetaceans, or even of new tapirs (did I mention the new tapir?), but of a stupendous new living bird, discovered clinging to existence in [...]

Friends and colleagues who know that I illustrated Neil Shubin’s first book, Your Inner Fish, have been asking if I was involved in the three-part PBS series hosted by Shubin that will air next week on April 9th.

Integral calculus originated in a 17th-century debate that was as religious as it was scientific

Many of the early Pre-Raphaelite paintings may have paint made from dead Egyptians. Considered to be a highly variable pigment between raw umber (almost greenish brown) and burnt umber (a ruddier brown), Mummy Brown was a transparent brown good for mixing.

Poor people will suffer the most, unless the world exploits vanishing opportunities to adapt

These 10 animals are just a few of the species to have been lost to extinction but still can be seen via old photographs

Archaeologists hope that a funding and conservation boost can halt wall collapses and other erosion occurring at the ancient city on Italy's Neopolitan coast

In the early days of scientific societies (i.e. the 17th century), scientists would share their experimental results with each other at meetings, and receive feedback about their experiments in person.