Sometimes, it seems like muscles have a mind of their own. Whether it’s a twitchy eyelid, a sudden spasm in your thigh or a muscle that seems to contract without cause, involuntary muscle movements are exceedingly common. (One might even be happening to you, right now, as you read this sentence.) Most muscle twitches fall under the category of fasciculations — small, involuntary movements that can occur at random to any muscle in the body, although they’re most common in the eyelids and l ...read more
Ancient DNA preserved in the icy climate of Siberia has revealed new insights about how ancient humans migrated five to seven millennia ago. The finding is important because it helps scientists fill in a big gap in their knowledge about ancient humans. We know, for example, that humans began to migrate out of Africa at least 50,000 years ago. But it took until roughly 10,000 years ago before they began to develop farming. The humans living in the intermittent period — as well as much more rece ...read more
The Science Near Me blog is a partnership between Discover magazine and ScienceNearMe.org. If you’re on the hunt for fun date night ideas, here's an option you may not have considered: a science center. What could be more romantic than nerding out with a loved one? Science centers can be part museum, part theater, part classroom and more all rolled into one. They’re filled with hands-on exhibits that demonstrate science concepts in fun and entertaining ways, and they often host events or put ...read more
Legends of setting foot in Qin Shi Huang’s tomb in Xi’an, China speak of booby traps — poison gases, trip-wire alarms and deadly crossbows. The crypt of the first emperor of China has been untouched for more than 2,000 years and has been a mysterious tomb for archeologists. But are those legends even true? Some say the booby traps of Qin Shi Huang’s tomb are real. Some say they’re just a bunch of fantasy. Let’s explore the proof we can find. Who Was Emperor Qin Shi Huang Himself? Emp ...read more
In my reporting for Discover, I regularly see studies that rely on laboratory rats to answer a variety of questions. One study, for example, considered whether garlic had protective properties against toxins. Another studied rats' hunger and impulse control. And in a study that no one in my family wanted to hear about at dinner time, researchers measured brain activity in decapitated rats. For me, these stories prompted a new question — why do rats show up so much in research? Why are t ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine