You probably have a favorite sea cucumber and don't even know it. There are over 1,200 species in the world's oceans — so many that scientists are even confused about how many there are —- so there's probably one you'd like a lot: some of them are decked out with the colors of your favorite sports team, others look like somebody crocheted an oversized zucchini out … [Read more...] about Sea Cucumber: Animal or Vegetable?
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Breaking the Cycle of Addiction, With Hallucinogens
Addiction has hit the United States hard, with over 20 million people reporting substance use disorders, according to the surgeon general's 2016 report. And so, despite decades of stigma, studies into using hallucinogenic drugs to treat addictions are coming back into scientific vogue. Take a trip with Ben and Matt to discover the pros and cons of this research — and the … [Read more...] about Breaking the Cycle of Addiction, With Hallucinogens
Are People Dying to Find Fenn’s Treasure?
At least four people have died searching for a bronze chest full of gold and gemstones hidden in the Rocky Mountains between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Canadian border by a reclusive millionaire adventurer named Forrest Fenn. The treasure hunt began when Fenn published a poem containing clues to the chest's location in 2010. The first four hunters on this list are most often … [Read more...] about Are People Dying to Find Fenn’s Treasure?
A Quick and Dirty History of Spring Break
Do you smell that, the unmistakable odor of stale beer and sunscreen mixed with regret? Yes, it's that time of year again, when hundreds of thousands of American college students descend on resort towns in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean for a week of day-drinking, EDM-thumping foam parties and more than a few poor decisions. But how, exactly, did spring break become a … [Read more...] about A Quick and Dirty History of Spring Break
Understand? Your Brain Signals Will Tell
Remember the voice of Charlie Brown's teacher: "Wha wha wha wha ..."? Sometimes we can hear someone speaking, but that doesn't always mean we're tuning in. Now neuroscientists have identified a way of detecting brain signals that indicate when a person is actually understanding speech. The technique, which applies machine learning, represents an advance in using relatively … [Read more...] about Understand? Your Brain Signals Will Tell