Have you watched your cat make a beeline for an empty box or zoom around the room after a nap and wondered: why do they do that? Scientists have pondered the same questions, but there are few definitive answers. Despite being our companions for centuries, our scientific understanding of cats is surprisingly sparse. This knowledge […]
Read MoreThe future of individualized medicine may depend on an army of one million volunteers. And scientists want you to get involved. Researchers with the National Institutes of Health are recruiting citizen scientists to enlist in a study of unprecedented scope and depth. The program, called All of Us, promises to take personal data from a […]
Read MoreIn today’s world, computers both big and small produce vast volumes of data in record time — millions of trillions of bytes worth. It’s so much information that researchers can’t properly analyze all the data produced, and the overload can also lead computers to make mistakes. That’s why researchers are increasingly turning to citizen scientists […]
Read MoreGenetics plays an enormous role in our lives, even if we don’t always realize it. Have you ever wondered why some people love cilantro, but it tastes like soap to others? While it might all be in your head, chances are it’s actually in your genes. A study was posted to arxiv.org in 2012 that […]
Read MoreThe beauty of citizen science is that it gives non-professional researchers the chance to get up close and personal with science. But when SciStarter interviewed citizen scientists this summer, they learned that the number one reason volunteers quit a project was because the scientists never replied to them. Think about all of your experiences collecting data from your […]
Read MoreCitizen scientists help make discoveries about how genetics may shape the way we taste food. Turkey or ham? Stuffing or mashed potatoes? Pumpkin or apple pie? As I prepared for Thanksgiving this year, I reflected on all the culinary choices this feasting day offers and wondered why people who share a culture, a community, or […]
Read MoreDNA, proteins, and chromosomes are too small to be seen with the naked eye, but there are plenty of citizen science projects that make the building blocks of life accessible to us all. Here are some great projects that need your help to advance our understanding of what we’re made of and where we come […]
Read MoreThe Genetics of Taste citizen science project from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science set out to understand the link between genetics and TAS2R38 gene, responsible for the “bitter” taste receptor. Come to your senses! SciStarter has curated a list of citizen science projects for all five senses. Guest post by Michelle Murphy-Niedziela. Don’t like […]
Read MoreSciStarter is the place to find, join, and contribute to science through more than 3,000 formal and informal research projects, events and tools. Our community of citizen science projects enables discovery, organization, and greater participation in science. This is also the place to track your contributions, bookmark things you like, and network with others. Join SciStarter to get started.
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