Who launches a nuclear weapon if the president has been killed? Investigative journalist Eric Schlosser explains the chilling history of American nuclear authority and chain of command.

We use words like "fight" and "battle" when we talk about cancer, as if it's an enemy we can conquer if we're strong enough. But a study shows this kind of thought may hurt chances of people taking preventative measures.

“Never try to teach a pig to read,” the saying goes. “It’s a waste of time and it annoys the pig.” But how do you know when you’re at that point?  When does attempting to persuade someone do more harm than good?

Florida-based startup Magic Leap has been the talk of the tech world ever since securing a major grant from Google. Now it's hired a respected sci-fi author to help guide their work.

Scientific studies show that people like gifts that contradict the holiday giving etiquette.

No prizes for guessing that English is the world's lingua franca. But how good are the world's other languages at spreading information?

Economist Larry Summers explains that there's no better time than now for the U.S. to reinvest in its crumbling infrastructure. 

A British charity profiled this week by The Guardian takes an outside-the-box approach to helping patients in mental health wards.

A new startup in Boston is helping hospitals save money by pooling resources and sharing expensive, not-often-used equipment.

This Monday, Skype launched a beta version of the program that will allow its more than 300 million monthly users to talk to each other, regardless of whether they speak the same language. 

Knowing what is acceptable to say creates predictability, and predictability frees group members from worry of possibly offending those around them.

The English author's words resonate today as violent regimes reign across the globe and the United States grapples with the findings of the Senate torture report.

The holidays mean feasts with lots of food. But how are we able to eat so much and what makes us crash after we're full? Biologist, Christina Agapakis, has the answers.

Trying to enact change is hard, particularly when the culture you want shifted is arranged in a way that promotes the status quo.

How would you tell the story of our Universe to an 8-to-10 year old? “To begin, begin.” –William Wordsworth The Big Bang is maybe the greatest scientific achievement of the […]

Teens know about the health risks when it comes to smoking cigarettes, but they may be less educated about e-cigarettes. Studies show these electronic vapor devices are gaining popularity among youths.

Those who don't let age get in the way of how society thinks they "should" feel may live longer. Researchers found that thinking of yourself as younger, may increase your lifespan.

Sports refs are human, however, they're paid to be impartial during games. Researchers say if they don't hail from a neutral place, they may let their bias get in the way, subconsciously.

"More noise occurs from a single man shouting than a hundred thousand who are quiet."  

A new report out of France suggests a link between eating chili peppers and boosted levels of testosterone, which makes men more adventurous and enterprising.