John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (January 3, 1892– September 2, 1973) was a major scholar of the English language, specializing in Old and Middle English. Twice Professor of Anglo-Saxon (Old English) at the University of Oxford, he also wrote a number... Continue Reading →
Using a type of artificial intelligence known as deep learning, MIT researchers have discovered a class of compounds that can kill a drug-resistant bacterium that causes more than 10,000 deaths in the United States every year. In a study appearing in Nature, the... Continue Reading →
Rochester astrophysicist Adam Frank explores the links between atmospheric oxygen and detecting extraterrestrial technology on distant planets. In the quest to understand the potential for life beyond Earth, researchers are widening their search to encompass not only biological markers, but... Continue Reading →
What is that unusual red halo surrounding this aurora? It is a Stable Auroral Red (SAR) arc. SAR arcs are rare and have only been acknowledged and studied since 1954. The featured wide-angle photograph, capturing nearly an entire SAR arc surrounding more common green... Continue Reading →
The chordae tendineae are a group of tough, tendinous strands in the heart. They are commonly referred to as the “heart strings” since they resemble small pieces of string. Functionally, the chordae tendineae play a vital role in holding the... Continue Reading →
Isaac Asimov immigrated with his family from Russia to the United States and became a biochemistry professor while pursuing writing. He published his first novel, Pebble in the Sky, in 1950. An immensely prolific author who penned nearly 500 books, he... Continue Reading →
Biology of ventilationAir moves from our lungs into the bloodstream through tiny, air-filled sacs called alveoli. Open circuit ventilatorsThis is a very simple version of a ventilator where waste gas is expelled from the system without recycling. Closed circuit ventilatorsThis... Continue Reading →
Can a rocket make the Moon ripple? No, but it can make a background moon appear wavy. The rocket, in this case, was a SpaceX Falcon Heavy that blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center last week. In the featured launch picture, the rocket's exhaust plume glows beyond... Continue Reading →
Biography: Qi Baishi (齊白石, 1864–1957) was one of the most well-known contemporary Chinese painters. His original name is Qi Huang (齊璜) and courtesy name Weiqing (渭清). Baishi (“white stone”) is one of his pseudonyms. Some of Qi’s major influences include the... Continue Reading →
Scents of Science 