Discover 2018-11.pdf

PLUSNOVEMBER 2018DiscoverSCIENCE FOR THE CURIOUSCracking the Protein Code P.54Driverless Cars on Every Road?Dream On P.48When the First Farmers Changed History P.38Why Were Superstitious P.26 Worlds Tiniest Satellites Ready for Launch P.70How the Smallest Particles Make the Biggest Impact P.30LIFE IN THE QUANTUMREALMBONUS ONLINECONTENT CODE p.3November 2018 DISCOVER 3 Contents NOVEMBER 2018 VOL.39,NO.930 Your Daily Dose of QuantumThe effects of quantum mechanics arent just relegated to crazy experiments theyre also part of our everyday lives.BY TIM FOLGER38 he Farmer and the ForagerAlong a European river 8,000 years ago,two very different groups met for the irst time.Humanity would never be the same.BY MARK BARNA48 Baby,Can You Drive My Car?Plans to bring autonomous vehicles to the public are in the fast lane,but it may be time for a rest stop.BY HANNAH FRY54 All in the Fold When it comes to proteins lifes building blocks the key is how theyre folded.One biochemist is studying the how and why of proteins crucial crimps so he can build his own.BY JONATHON KEATSIBREAKSTOCK/SHUTTERSTOCKFEATURESBiochemist David Baker is unraveling the mystery of proteins,crucial to building life.Read more on page 54.Website access code:DSD1811 Enter this code at:www.DiscoverM to gain access to exclusive subscriber content.ContentsPLUSNOVEMBER 2018DiscoverSCIENCE FOR THE CURIOUSCracking the Protein Code P.54Driverless Cars on Every Road?Dream On P.48When the First Farmers Changed History P.38Why Were Superstitious P.26 Worlds Tiniest Satellites Ready for Launch P.70How the Smallest Particles Make the Biggest Impact P.30LIFE IN THE QUANTUMREALM4 DISCOVERMAGAZINE.COMCOLUMNS&DEPARTMENTS6 EDITORS NOTEPerceiving RealityMotorcycle riding,heightened awareness and the quantum world.7 INBOXReaders weigh in on eating insects and the psychology of personality.22 VITAL SIGNSPain,Motion,RepeatA young professional has her life upended by dizzying moments doctors cant explain.BY TONY DAJER26 MIND OVER MATTERKnock on WoodWe know crossing paths with a black cat isnt bad luck.So why do we still change our routes?BY GALADRIEL WATSON64 ORIGIN STORYKnow Your EnemyResearch on deadly ancient pathogens offers clues to how they formed,and how they might be defeated.BY GEMMA TARLACH9 THE CRUXThe art of microscopic photography;a look back at preparing astronauts for a crazy-long journey;the financial cost of breast cancer;the secret to developing math and reading skills;and more.TOP:KELLIE JAEGER/DISCOVER.BOTTOM:LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORYON THE COVERWhy Were Superstitious p.26Worlds Tiniest Satellites Ready for Launch p.70Life in the Quantum Realm:How the Smallest Particles Make the Biggest Impact p.30Cracking the Protein Code p.54Driverless Cars on Every Road?Dream On p.48When the First Farmers Changed History p.38COVER:Dmitriy Rybin/Shutterstock70 OUT THEREA Sprite-ly SpacecraftThough individually tiny and disposable,a feet of probes could play a big role in space exploration.BY STEVE NADIS74 20 THINGS YOU DIDNT KNOW ABOUT LasersTheyve won a lot of Nobels,helped detect lost cities and chronicled the drift of the moon.BY ERIKA K.CARLSONTechnicians at a laser facility in CaliforniaWhy do some people cling to superstition?Find out on page 26.You need a new watchthe one you are wearing was made when Nixon was in office,but extravagantly-priced watches that add zeros just because of a high falootin name are an insult to your logic.Why shell out big money so some foreign company can sponsor another yacht race?Its time to put an end to such madness.Its absolutely possible to have the highest quality,precision classic timepiece without the high and mighty price tag.Case in point:The Stauer Urban Blue.Packed with high-end watch performance and style,minus the high-end price tag.Its everything a high-end watch should be:Sturdy stainless steel and genuine leather construction.Precision timing thats accurate to four seconds a daythats more precise than a 27-jewel automatic watch priced at over$6,000.And,good looking with simple,clean lines and a striking metallic blue face.“Blue watches are one of the growing style trends seen in the watch world in the past few years”WatchTimeYour great escape from the over-priced watch craze.At Stauer,we go directly to the source(cutting out the middleman),and engineer our own watch designs.This means we can offer a top quality timepiece that happens to only cost the same as two well-made cocktails at your favorite bar.So,while were busy revolutionizing the watch industry to bring you more real value,you can take your own stand against overpriced watches with the Urban Blue.Your satisfaction is 100%guaranteed.Wear the Urban Blue for 30 days.If youre not convinced that you achieved excellence for less,send it back for a refund of the item price.The Urban Blue is one of our fastest sellers.It takes six months to engineer this watch so dont wait.Take a stand against overpriced watches in impeccable style.Limited to the fi