Science

Winter Solstice this year will fall on December 21, but what exactly is a solstice? Learn more about how this astronomical event has been celebrated through the ages, and how Winter Solstice may have influenced the date of Christmas.

Many believe that the Shroud of Turin is Jesus Christ’s burial cloth and bears the image of his face and body, but skeptics call it a medieval forgery.

On Nov. 8, 1895, German scientist Wilhelm Roentgen’s experiments with cathode rays led him to discover X-rays, a feat that earned him the first-ever Nobel Prize for Physics.

Around report card time many parents hear a familiar complaint: “My teacher just doesn’t like me.” Researchers at the University of Miami acknowledge there may be truth to these grumblings, and that “non-cognitive traits” influence students’ grades.

The first systematic cadaver observations were probably performed by hunters, butchers and cooks, who dissected animals to find edible organs. Today, doctors and scientists use autopsies to gain greater insight into a human patient’s medical history—often uncovering information that was unavailable or went unrecognized during treatment.

On March 28, 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant experienced a partial meltdown. It was the worst-ever commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history.

A recent study has found that the Yellowstone caldera rose significantly between 2004 and 2010, sparking fears in the media that the simmering “supervolcano” beneath it will soon erupt. However, volcanic experts maintain that the chance of a disastrous eruption in the near future remains slim.

The level of radioactive carbon in wines made after 1950 is higher due to nuclear bomb testing, making it easy to identify new wine posing as century-old vintage.

Whether passengers on a sinking ship decide to let women and children escape first depends on the speed at which the ship is sinking, a recent study suggests.

The number of world records set in track and field and other Olympic events has decreased substantially over the last two decades, indicating that athletes may have reached the natural limits for athletic performance.

Due to a condition called hyperthymesia, Jill Price can recall practically every day of her life in vivid detail. New scans of Price's brain may finally reveal the source of her extraordinary memory.

The early morning hours of Nov. 18 will be the best time to view the Leonid meteor shower in the United States.

The development of the modern-day bicycle required centuries of creative thinking and the skills of several different inventors. Years ago, bicycles were not quite so easy or comfortable to ride. FindingDulcinea takes a look back at the evolution of this handy machine, from its clunky beginnings to the sleek models of today.

Since the time when people used the abacus or slide rule to perform arithmetic, scientists have been looking for easier ways to make calculations. Their task was made considerably easier when Jack Kilby helped spur the invention of the pocket calculator.

Due to a condition called hyperthymesia, Jill Price can recall practically every day of her life in vivid detail. New scans of Price's brain may finally reveal the source of her extraordinary memory.

Scientific studies about the relationship between music and emotion could impact treatment for children with communication disorders such as autism, and for patients living with Alzheimer’s disease.

The recent discovery of a rocky Earth-like planet with an atmospheric temperature that could support the development of life is a breakthrough. But it is just one of many recent findings that support the possibility of life in space.

For many people, Sunday afternoons are a mix of cloudy yearning for the day before and dread of the week to come.

Does the taste of chicken feel pointy to you? Does the letter W seem red or the number 7 yellow, regardless of its print color? Exact responses may differ, but if you’ve ever associated words or numbers with colors or tastes, you might have synesthesia.

Ninety thousand years ago early humans first ventured out of Africa. Today, humans inhabit virtually every corner of the world. Take a look at the journey humanity has taken across continents through the ages, and connect with interactive resources for exploring the history of human migration.

A recent book by Canadian researchers reveals that exposure to hormone-altering chemicals—even at low levels—is harmful to our health, especially for children and expectant mothers.

A new study suggests toads can detect impending earthquakes, calling to mind other examples of animals sensing disasters before they hit.

Parents who demand honesty from their children lie just as frequently as parents who don’t, report studies from the University of Toronto and the University of California, San Diego.

The coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the area between Iceland and the Azores, is teeming with marine life previously unknown to scientists.

Comets, asteroids and meteoroids are plentiful in the asteroid belt and Kuiper Belt regions of the solar system, and every once in a while, they venture near Earth.

19th-century manufacturers sought an artificial material with similar qualities as silk. The first fabric deemed suitable for the task was rayon, which in fact was originally known as “artificial silk.” In its more than 110 years in existence, rayon has gone on to make a statement on fashion runways, highways and operating tables.

The U.S. may approve an intensified form of music therapy for various conditions, including hypertension, as early as next year.

As the Hubble Space Telescope enters its twilight years, preparations begin for the 2014 launch of the James Webb Space Telescope—one attempt by the United States to stay in the space race.

The strongest space storm to hit Earth in more than three years arrived on Monday, a day earlier than scientists predicted, despite recent advances in outer space weather forecasting.

“Enviropigs” produce up to 65 percent less phosphorous in their feces and urine, creating less of a burden on the environment. Still, environmentalists’ reactions aren’t all favorable.