Scientists have developed a new data transfer protocol for the Internet fast enough to download a full-length DVD movie in less than five seconds, the California Institute of Technology said today.
Scientists may have found a better way to detect concealed nuclear weapons-grade materials at border crossings around the world. Their method relies on particles generated by cosmic rays as they pass through Earth's atmosphere.
A new study suggests Neandertals could touch the tips of their thumb and index finger, and may have been as dexterous as modern humans. The findings are significant because they could help researchers in their quest to explain why Neandertals died out 28,000 years ago.
Astronomers searching for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life
wrapped up their mission in Puerto Rico to home in on some of the more exciting radio transmission to reach Earth. They collected data
on 166 sources, exceeding their original goal of 150.
The human intestine is a swirling and churning environment that is host to microbial communities as diverse as those found in the Amazon rain forest. And like the regions beneath the soils that carpet the rainforest floor, much of what lies within the gut remains unexplored.
The U.S. Navy has drafted in a crack troop of mine-seeking dolphins into the Persian Gulf, to help clear the way for ships carrying humanitarian aid and other vessels. Dolphin sonar is a precision tool for picking up hidden underwater objects, say experts.
Deadly asteroids, killer dinosaurs, alien invasions. Just when you thought Hollywood had done it all, a fresh end-of-the-world scenario opens in theaters tomorrow. But this time the action takes place 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) below our feet in The Core. Science correspondent Chad Cohen separates science from fiction. This program airs tonight on our U.S. cable television program National Geographic Today.
Recently discovered skeletons of primitive whales with well-developed limbs, fingers, and toes support genetic evidence that modern whales and hippos have common ancestors. The ancient walking whales found in Pakistan suggest that today's giants of the sea are descended from hoofed animals that moved to the ocean 50 million years ago.
A study of frogs that could yield benefits for both conservation and human health received the 7,000th grant awarded by the National Geographic Society's Committee for Research and Exploration.
The melting of an enormous Antarctic ice sheet 14,000 years ago triggered climatic changes in Europe and North America that ultimately led to the end of the last ice age, according to a new study.
When a forest goes up in flames normally elusive Melanophila acuminata beetles from miles around head for the inferno in droves, joining a mating frenzy so that the females can lay their eggs in the freshly burned trees. Scientists are hoping to mimic the beetle's extraordinary sensitivity to infrared radiation, technology of big interest to the military. This National Geographic EXPLORER story airs this Sunday on MSNBC.
Jesús Rivas has the kind of job that would keep most of us lying awake at night hoping to keep the nightmares at bay: He does field research on anacondas, which can weigh more than half a ton. And he looks for them in swamps by feeling for them with his bare feet. This Five Days of Snakes story airs tonight on the National Geographic Channel.
Scientists from around the world are mimicking the mechanics of insects as they design tiny flying robots to scout battlefields, search for victims trapped in rubble, and record images as they hover over distant planets. This National Geographic EXPLORER story airs this weekend on MSNBC.
The notion of fossilized dinosaur dung may draw wry smiles from some. But researchers who study coprolites say these dietary waste products can tell us much about the dinosaurs. Now, if they could only get a little more respect. View the full story and a photo gallery
Effective camouflage is crucial to any military campaign. Troops able to hide themselves and their weapons will steal a march on the enemy. Yet in developing the latest concealment technology scientists are seeking inspiration from two radiantly colorful creatures: butterflies and cuttlefish. This story airs on National Geographic EXPLORER this Sunday.
