Life Science

Time to get nutty! How much do you know about all of the different types of nuts out there? Take this quiz and find out!

By Alia Hoyt

For what looks like a big old lump of putty, the human brain is a truly incredible thing. Think of it as the body's mission control center. Find out how much of a brainiac you are with our quiz.

By Alia Hoyt

Before the widespread use of DNA, establishing the paternity of a child was a tricky business. Ever heard of the oscillophore?

By Dave Roos

Researchers are studying the chemistry behind what makes cats go crazy for catnip. And whether or not the chemical compound could have medicinal benefits for treating diseases like cancer.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Could manipulating the human brain's desire for sweet foods lead to new weight control methods and better treatments for eating disorders?

By John Perritano

Wouldn't keeping quiet help us get away from whatever's scaring us? What's the science behind the weird face and raw shout?

By Laurie L. Dove

What's the science behind fainting at the sight of blood? This BrainStuff video takes a look at the brain's internal toggle switch making some people hit the floor.

By Laurie L. Dove

New studies suggests your gait may be able to predict something deeper than just a temporary mood.

By Jesslyn Shields

What does it feel like to get a concussion? What are the mental and physical effects of this injury? And how can we best diagnose and treat them in the future?

Author Annalee Newitz (Gawker Media's Gizmodo editor-in-chief) talks to us about Earth's 5 mass extinctions, as well as the possibility that we live in one right now.

Christian Sager interviews Dr. Jennifer Watson on how parts of the brain affect why we are the way we are. Learn more about your physiological personality in this interview from HowStuffWorks. Music: Land on the Golden Gate - by: Chris Zabriskie

Intelligence tests are not often accurate measures of intelligence. Learn more about intelligence tests and some of the more inaccurate ones in this video from HowStuffWorks.

Jack Black does it. Wyclef Jean does it. And chances are, you do it, too. Everyone's a rock star in the bathroom. And there's a scientific explanation behind our soapy musical stylings.

By Debra Ronca

From tobacco smoke enemas to whirling chairs, doctors have tried almost everything to cure human disease.

By Maria Trimarchi

Worried that we're running out of effective antibiotics? Never fear. Scientists are plundering cockroach brains and other surprising sources to create new lifesaving medications.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Is there any truth to the stereotype of the mad scientist? Turns out there is a link between high IQs and mental illness. Researchers are still not sure why.

By Laurie L. Dove

Lots of Americans believe that getting the flu is no worse than getting a cold. Or that the flu vaccine can give them flu. We separate truth from fiction.

By Patrick J. Kiger

We've all seen "flame wars" on the Internet. Maybe we've been the victims or the perpetrators, too. But what causes people to say things online that they would never say in person?

By Laurie L. Dove

Who doesn't want to instantly gobble up the marshmallows floating delectably on top of their hot chocolate? As it turns out, giving in to or delaying that impulse can say a lot about you -- and your willpower. Ready to see how strong yours is?

By Robert Lamb

Don't think of emotions as just "feelings." They're also the product of how your brain processes your feelings and how you respond to them.

By Caitlin Uttley

When a well-timed joke or a clever cartoon tickles your funny bone, specific areas of your brain react to spread that mirth throughout your system. Can scientists use this knowledge to create a universal formula for comedy?

By Cristen Conger

The human brain has a great capacity to adapt, rewire and grow. How can you help your noggin reach its ultimate potential?

By Charles W. Bryant

The human brain can do some amazing things -- and humans can do amazing things because of it. Here are 10 of the most wondrous and unusual feats ever performed by a person's brain.

By Josh Clark

When peering thousands of years into the future, there are certain things we can count on -- evolution, extinction, plate tectonics, climate change and, quite possibly, the eruption of a supervolcano. What else does the Earth's far future hold?

By William Harris

Scientists know that the brain's reward center teaches humans that certain behaviors lead to pleasure, but what about those that lead to pain? A clue lies in the fact that pain isn't just a physical sensation, but an emotional and psychological one as well.

By Josh Clark