Gladys West, whose work helped lead to the creation of GPS, has died at age 95. Ms. West, a Black mathematician and computer programmer, grew up working on a farm in Virginia. Her efforts for the US Navy helped make GPS possible. But until recent years, very few people knew of her work.
Posts tagged as “scientists”
Scientists have long known that some dogs can learn the names of lots of toys. Now, a recent study shows that these dogs can even learn the names of new toys just by listening in while people talk about the toys. This is a skill that young children have, but dogs usually don't.
Scientists have discovered that two different kinds of sea animals – orcas and dolphins – may be working together to hunt for salmon. Orcas and dolphins are both clever, but it's unusual for two different kinds of animals to cooperate in this way.
By exploring deep under the Southern Ocean, researchers have discovered 30 unusual species that are new to science. The species include a sponge that eats animals, worms that eat bones, and several news sea stars and sea worms.
Scientists have reported on an unusual "hybrid" bird spotted in Texas - a cross between a blue jay and a green jay. The discovery is surprising because the two species are quite different. Scientists think the hybrid could be a result of climate change.
Scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have discovered a previously unknown kind of snailfish living over 2 miles (3.27 kilometers) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. But if you were imagining a large, scary creature - you'd be wrong. One researcher described the fish as "adorable".
Scientists at Kings College London, have come up with a very unusual toothpaste - it was made using sheep's wool. The scientists say the toothpaste can not only protect teeth, but can also help repair damaged teeth.
Birds are famous for waking up early. But in a recent study, scientists discovered that light pollution is leading birds to wake even earlier and go to sleep later. Bright lights are costing birds an average of 50 minutes of sleep each night.
Scientists from the University of Florida have recently reported on the world's largest nesting site for freshwater turtles. They counted about 41,000 Giant South American River turtles at the site. Just as importantly, they developed a more accurate method of counting the turtles.
When a fireball fell through the sky in the southeastern United States on June 26, it caught the attention of people across seven states. It was a meteor breaking up as it fell through the Earth's atmosphere. A small part of the space rock tore through a house in Georgia. Scientists now say the meteorite is older than the Earth.
Scientists from Japan and Taiwan may have solved an old mystery: how did ancient people with simple tools and little scientific knowledge make long, dangerous ocean trips to new places? To test their ideas, the researchers made a trip of their own in a canoe they built from a tree using stone tools.