Stories by Simon Makin

These therapies dampen fears absent direct exposure—no need to be in the room with a live tarantula

Human echolocation repurposes parts of the brain’s visual cortex for sound, even in sighted people

A smell’s effect on facial recognition is key at first—but decreases as a baby’s eyesight improves

A long-running research endeavor reveals key chemical players that cement memories in place—and still more have yet to be discovered

Fear of phantom costs pushes us to avoid “free money” or “too good to be true” offers

The extent to which people experience “inner speech” varies greatly, and the differences matter for performing certain cognitive tasks

Gene-cutting diagnostic tests could be as easy as a rapid COVID test and as accurate as PCR

Programmable liquids could aid robot grippers, shock absorption, acoustics, and more

Certain brain layers specialize in particular waves—which might aid understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders

Bringing people together virtually doesn’t seem to boost disruptive research

Very young children’s developing immune systems respond to the COVID-causing virus SARS-CoV-2 very differently than do those of adults

Distinctive meanings for a word like “risk” can have a big impact on public messaging, especially when it comes to issues like climate change

Scientists can finally predict a chemical’s odor without having a human sniff it

Some astrocytes, thought to play only a supportive role in the brain, can communicate with neurons

Scientists have developed an ultrasound device to detect aggressive breast cancer that may develop between screenings

A unique U.S. strain of leishmaniasis has just been reported

Researchers have created the first nerve-controlled prosthetic hand that can be used in daily life

An electrode inspired by soft robotics could provide less invasive brain-machine interfaces

Electronics that can bend, stretch and repair themselves could potentially work in applications ranging from tougher robots to smart clothes

Pictures conjured by the mind’s eye lack detail, despite how vividly you picture them

New technology combines electricity and drugs to stimulate healing of tenacious wounds

Magnetic stimulation of brain regions could help people stop smoking, but researchers are still learning how to deliver the treatment effectively

A wireless device worn on the face or lip can produce fragrances such as lavender and green tea in a virtual world

A robotic finger’s supersensitive touches could probe inside body parts and circuits