Gamers revolutionize biomedical research via DNA analysis
In a remarkable study published in Nature Biotechnology, researchers discovered gaming's transformative potential in biomedical research. Borderlands Science, an interactive mini-game included in Borderlands 3, has helped users analyze microbiological evolutionary histories. "We've been amazed by Read More...
Don’t toss that dead mosquito! Mail it to this scientist instead
It may sound like a strange request, but Canadian scientist Dan Peach is asking people to send him dead mosquitos via post. Each squished bugger, argues Peach, can provide useful insights as he explores exactly how far mosquitos are traveling as a result of global warming. Climate change and Read More...
You can contribute to science while observing nature in your backyard
From analyzing distant galaxies in order to help astronomers better understand the universe to protecting the coral reefs from climate change, there are plenty of cool ways you can contribute to science these days. And if you have been particularly attentive to the nature around you while in Read More...
5 Ways adults can reconnect with a love of scientific learning
Most of our childhood is spent exploring, learning, and absorbing new information, but once we leave formal education, this emphasis on cultivating new knowledge is largely lost to the world of work and adult responsibilities. Simultaneously, large portions of the adult population struggle to Read More...
Citizen scientists step up to track cicada rising
Citizen science has been booming during the pandemic as curious adventurers seek out new ways to get involved in their local natural environment. As billions of cicadas rise up after their 17-year slumber, teams of citizen scientists are taking on the task of mapping their path and prevalence Read More...
Citizen science unveils true significance of Scottish fort
Citizen science has exploded in popularity during the pandemic and at one site in Scotland, years of volunteer archaeology have paid off with the discovery of a long sought after hillfort. The King's Seat Hillfort has been known to archeologists for a century, but its full size, location, and Read More...
The Optimist View: The surge and success of citizen science
“Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated.” – Rosalind Franklin By Amelia Buckley Several years ago, every member of my family unwrapped a bulky rain gauge on Christmas morning. A gift from my data-loving grandfather, the rain gauges were so that we could all take Read More...
Citizen science project lets you fight deforestation from your couch
Much of our anxiety surrounding the climate crisis is driven by the feeling that we can do little to influence the rapidly changing climate. So, if you’re looking for a hands-on way to contribute to conservation, we’ve got a solution for you. And you don’t even have to leave your couch to Read More...
Mobile game lets you build ecosystems to help solve real ecological issues
As climate change, deforestation, pollution, and other human activities threaten our natural world, scientists often turn to mathematical models to see what actions need to be taken to ensure that ecosystems are kept in balance. Now, anyone can try their hand at keeping an ecosystem in balance Read More...
Lockdown helps create first global map of spring dawn chorus
The drop in noise from human activity during lockdown has presented scientists with the amazing opportunity to create the first global public sound map of the spring dawn chorus. With a quieter world, scientists and artists from the Biotopia Museum in Munich, Germany, have launched a citizen Read More...