Does This Make My Antenna Look Big?
Researchers mix technology with fashion, analyze a pharaoh's skin condition, measure the smarts of Scrabble players, and more in this edition of Miller-McCune's "Cocktail Napkin."
As if Commercials Weren't Bad Enough Already
Do we really need to smell the items featured in TV programming? A materials expert has created a function for your TV or portable device that can generate thousands of odors.
The Exploitation of Muggles in Harry Potter's World
In this edition of The Cocktail Napkin, we look academics' fixation on the social and economic problems in the world of Harry Potter, and how music festivals impact the psychological and social well-being.
New Dinosaur Gets a Rather Large Name
As if being wiped out by a meteor wasn't degrading enough, a charismatic dinosaur discovered in Utah gets a less-than-flattering name.
Nottingham Fights Link to Robin Hood
Researchers from Nottingham University Business School say their survey proves it's time for the city to re-embrace its most famous, albeit probably mythical, hero.
Standing in Alcohol Won't Get You Drunk
Newsflash: Submerging your feet in alcohol doesn't get you intoxicated. It only helps you dodge the "Less Filling/Tastes Great" debate. Sorry, Denmark.
College Guys Will Remember the Pretty Ones
In a recent experiment, women who showed interest in college-aged men were more likely to be remembered if they were deemed attractive.
Bacteria Capable of Standing Up and Moving Vertically
Researchers discover very specific patterns in the movement of bacteria, which has important implications for the treatment of infections.
Debunking Theories of a Terrorist Power Grab
A Penn State power-system expert cites laws of physics to pull the plug on worries that a terrorist attack on a minor substation could bring down the entire U.S. electric grid.
Researchers Tackle the 'Hipster' Phenomenon
Researchers tap the indie marketplace to learn more about hipsters, who don't think of themselves as hipsters despite their obvious hipsterness.
Study: Canadian Parents Enforce Fewer Rules
In comparison to French and Italian parents, Canadians deemed most tolerant, according to study.
Use the Phone While Driving, Get Dumped
Study says using a cell phone while driving causes communication breakdowns that could cause misunderstandings and hurt relationships.
World Press Photos in Focus
Ready for a close-up: The year in award-winning photojournalism presented by the World Press Photo Exhibition.
Get Plenty of Sleep Before Imitating Rock Gods
Paper reveals that players of a popular video game increase their performance when they've had a full night of rest.
Ranking States' Citizen Embarrassment Levels
Amid a rush of political scandals and missteps, we figure that some citizens are more embarrassed for their state than others. We look at the shameful headlines and determine where these states would rank on the citizen embarrassment level.
State of Embarrassment — Texas
How textbook changes and talk of secession affect the citizen embarrassment level in Texas.
State of Embarrassment — Tennessee
How battling Obamacare and being highlighted for corruption affect the citizen embarrassment level in Tennessee.
State of Embarrassment — Illinois
How former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and state corruption in general affect the citizen embarrassment level in Illinois.
State of Embarrassment — Virginia
How gun laws, Confederate History Month and a statue of Stalin contribute to the citizen embarrassment level in Virginia.
State of Embarrassment — New York
How rampant corruption, a governor's affair with a prostitute and the fall of "America's Cop" affect the citizen embarrassment level in New York.
State of Embarrassment — Arizona
How immigration laws, a state boycott and a "worst sheriff" honor affect the citizen embarrassment level in Arizona.
State of Embarrassment — California
How a budget deficit, credit crisis and the Governator affect the citizen embarrassment level in California.
Putting Climate Researchers Under the Microscope
Scientists who argue for human-caused climate change published twice as many papers and are cited 64 percent more often than researchers who doubt climate change.
House, Grey's Anatomy Violate Codes of Conduct
Researchers analyzing episodes of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and Fox's "House" determine the hospital dramas are "rife" with incidents that violate professional codes of conduct.
Skateboarders Try Riskier Tricks for Women
Researchers find that skateboarders will take more risks with their tricks and boast higher testosterone levels when women are present.
The Grandson's Inheritance: Grandpa's Walker
Researchers find a link between hip fractures in grandfathers and reduced bone size in their grandsons. Plus, see what happens when pop culture and academics collide ...
Build Strong Bones With ... Beer?
Scientists say the dietary silicon in beer boosts bone density, and moderate consumption might help fight osteoporosis.
The Cocktail Napkin -- A Scientist and Ewe Walk Into a Bar ...
It's no joke: Researchers give Viagra to pregnant sheep and find that the drug boosts vital nutrients needed for fetal development.
News and Options -- Berlusconi. Sigh.
Tens of thousands of 'Purple People' — named after the traditional color of Italian mourning — march in Rome to protest a legendarily bombastic, allegedly corrupt prime minister. Is the country finally ready to say basta?
Separated at Birth: Cheney and Sir Topham Hatt?
A controlling, bossy element on "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" exudes qualities that put him on track to become vice president?
Gas on Mars Silent But Not Deadly
Scientists weigh the possibility that methane gas on Mars comes from microorganisms in the soil.
Having a Nose for Degraded Documents
A scientific 'sniff test' could aid museums and libraries in preserving their old works without damaging the actual documents.
Reasons Why Smoking is Socially Acceptable at Parties
College party-goers share their reasons puffing on the patio ... and other odd studies highlighted in this month's Cocktail Napkin.
Testing People Who Get Spittin' Mad
Researchers find that disappointed voters on Election Night 2008 experienced a dip in testosterone levels. How do they know? They measured the voters' spit, of course.
Which Dog Is the Smartest?
A leading canine researcher says dogs understand more than 150 words and can count up to four or five. He has compiled a list of the world's smartest dogs. See if your pooch cracks his Top 7.
These Art Critics Love to Ruffle Feathers
Professor Shigeru Watanabe from Keio University in Japan, writing in the journal Animal Cognition, says pigeons can use color, pattern and texture to distinguish good paintings from bad.
Looking Back In Anger
An esteemed professor rightly takes AIDS denialists to task, but his valuable history of the movement is at times a caustic read.
Shedding Light on Ice Hockey Blackouts
Miller-McCune magazine highlights current research that merits a raised eyebrow or a painful grin.
The Ecstasy and the Agony
MDMA holds promise as part of a therapy that helps post-traumatic stress patients confront and extinguish their fears. But ecstasy's recreational reputation has slowed research.
Today’s Threat Level: Yellow, With a Chance of Phlegm
Miller-McCune magazine highlights current research that merits a raised eyebrow or a painful grin.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of eBay
The digital revolution lets antiquities forgers sell their 'replicas' worldwide, unintentionally undermining the black market in looted artifacts.
Iran: From Axis to Ally?
A new book says that Iran's leadership is opportunistic, not evil, and therefore open to imaginative American policy initiatives.
Burning Fat with E. Coli's Help
As this blog has been telling readers for a while now, medical research on mice should never be shunted — unless, of course, the 'shunt' itself is the focus of the research.
Nanoparticles to Target Plaque
Nanoparticles that help form 'micelles' — how perfect for this blog — help in targeting plaque linked to cardiovascular disease.
This Might Explain Mickey's Vocal Range
If you've ever found yourself wondering, 'Why can't mice talk?' this is the study (and, let's face it, the blog) for you.
What If There Was a Class War and Nobody Showed Up?
In a new book that questions the concept of 'class war,' two academics argue that income inequality is not a partisan issue but an American problem, and that citizens should 'make a ruckus' about it.
Rats: Just a Bunch of Homebodies
It's called the 'rat race,' but it turns out they're not really going very far.
This Is a Mouse's Brain on Prozac
How, exactly, do antidepressant drugs like Prozac affect the brain?
SARS and the Stuff in Your Fish Tank
Humans often don't know what's in nature's medicine chest, but a brand-new study suggests that even the scummier corners may hold cures.
A Spicy Way to Keep the Weight Off?
Think you might be adding an extra pound or two around the middle? Well, then it might be time to reach up to that spice shelf and take down your bottle of turmeric powder.