2007 was chock-full of fun and fascinating science stories. Here are some of our staff and reader favorites that appeared on ScienceNOW.
Houston, We Have a Phone Call
What did the oceanographer say to the astronaut? Scientists got a chance to find out last January when researchers orchestrated the first phone call from deep sea to space. Now as long as telemarketers don't get ahold of the number …
Fido Can Place Your Face
When your dog hears your voice, he forms a mental image of you. To make the find, researchers trained dogs to watch videos on a computer while being videotaped. (Who says canines aren't ready for the digital age?)
Talk About a Gender Stereotype
Guys, think your girlfriend talks too much? Gals, wish your guy would open up a bit more? It turns out there's not much difference in the average number of words men and women utter in a day.
After a Short Delay, Quantum Mechanics Becomes Even Weirder
Just when you thought advanced physics couldn't get any stranger, researchers have shown that an observer can change the way light behaves—even after the light has been measured.
Educational Videos Drain Baby Brains
Could videos designed to make your baby smarter actually be making her dumber? That's what one team found, much to the consternation of one high-profile company.
Something in the Way She Moves?
In one of our more provocative stories this year, researchers found that lap dancers earn bigger tips when they're ovulating. Don't pretend you didn't read the article—it was one of our most popular items.
The Rodent Who Knew Too Much
Give rats some credit: They're smart enough to know how dumb they are. When the tests researchers gave them got too hard, the rodents knew when to throw in the towel.
String Theory, With No Holds Barred
If physicists took up boxing, the results might look something like this. Last March, two of the field's biggest heavyweights argued the merits of string theory in front of a rapt audience—and our intrepid reporter had a ringside seat.
Stress, Pain, and Paris Hilton
Had enough Paris Hilton? Then you've got something in common with male mice, who were so freaked out by a cardboard cutout of the reality-show star, they forgot all about their pain.
No More Black Holes?
The universe's strangest and most captivating object doesn't exist. So argues a team of physicists whose calculations could revolutionize astrophysics and resolve a long-standing paradox. At the very least, the work has captured the imagination of our readers, making this story our most read of all time. It's one of our favorites as well.
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