Nothingness

28 articles
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    Zoology

    The Few Tough Species That Survive the Rigors of Nothingness

    The Expose-R module attaches to the ISS and holds samples in the harsh conditions of space.NASA Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . In the 1800s, scientists imagined that life was brought to Earth by a rock that had been knocked off of a distant, life-filled planet. Now, over 100 […]

    • By Manasi Vaidya
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    Physics

    Why “Hawking Radiation” Was Almost “Feynman Radiation”

    Nautilus’ Ingenious this month, Alan Lightman, is a successful writer and physicist, and one of the very rare people to receive an appointment in both science and humanities at MIT*. He did his doctoral research at Caltech while Richard Feynman was a professor there. One day, Lightman was on hand to see the brilliant and […]

    • By Michael Segal
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    Zoology

    If Half of All Species Go Extinct, Will One of Them Be Us?

    Biodiversity JengaMartin Sharman Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . How many animal species do you think go extinct every year? Last week I conducted a highly unscientific polling of around 20 of my Facebook and Google Chat contacts, asking that same question. I’m not trying to brag, but I […]

    • By David Shultz
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    Environment

    Iran’s Great, Dying Salt Lake

    As Urmia dries up, it leaves huge salt beaches behind.Giulio M via Flickr Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . The last time my cousin Houman traveled to Lake Urmia was 10 years ago. He and four of his friends piled into his car and drove for roughly 12 hours, […]

    • By Azeen Ghorayshi
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    Health

    How a Mental Disorder Can Disappear from the World Overnight

    The dinosaur long ago renamed “Apatosaurus” is still often called “Brontosaurus.” stevegeer via iStock Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . Over the past few decades, autism and Asperger syndrome have become prominent in the public consciousness, and that prominence has been reflected in popular art and entertainment. Autism, a […]

    • By Jim Davies
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    Technology

    A Material So Dark That It Looks Like a Black Hole

    Even when applied to a highly reflective surface like aluminum foil, Vantablack renders the entire surface, including creases, all but invisible.Surrey Nanosystems via Wikipedia Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . Color is such a powerful and evocative sensation—one of the first that we learn to describe as children—that we […]

    • By Veronique Greenwood
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