Do these dual images say anything about your personality?
Personality quizzes based on ambiguous images are bunk, but we can still learn from such psychological myths.
Jennifer Ouellette
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Jennifer Ouellette
Senior Writer
jennifer.ouellette@arstechnica.com
Jennifer is a senior reporter at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. She has been writing professionally about physics and related topics for more than two decades, and was the founding director of the National Academy of Sciences’ Science and Entertainment Exchange from 2008-2010. Her work has appeared in Discover, Slate, Smithsonian, Nature, Physics World, and Quanta, among other publications. She previously worked as science editor for Gizmodo, and is the author of four popular science books, most recently The Calculus Diaries (2010) and Me, Myself And Why (2014). Professional highlight: appearing on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson in February 2011 and winning one of the show’s coveted “Golden Harmonicas.” Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. BlueSky: @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social
Recent stories by
Jennifer Ouellette
Netflix drops trailer for the Russo brothers’ The Electric State
"We have a chance to tear their whole sick system down. Humans and bots fighting against the real enemy."
Jennifer Ouellette
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107
These hot oil droplets can bounce off any surface
Droplets of less volatile liquids like soybean oil and silicone oil have lower saturation pressures than water.
Jennifer Ouellette
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Research roundup: 7 cool science stories from February
Dancing sea turtles, the discovery of an Egyptian pharaoh's tomb, perfectly boiled eggs, and more.
Jennifer Ouellette
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Study: Hot Vesuvian ash cloud really did turn a brain to glass
Fresh analysis with calorimetry, X-rays, electron microscopy lend support to hotly debated theory.
Jennifer Ouellette
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47
Single-fiber computer could one day track your health
"Soldiers will be the early adopters and beneficiaries of this new technology, integrated with AI systems."
Jennifer Ouellette
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69
Brewing tea removes lead from water
High surface area of the tea leaves means they can adsorb toxic metals released by the boiling water.
Jennifer Ouellette
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147
The revolution starts now with Andor S2 teaser
"We're in a war. You wanna fight? Or you wanna win?"
Jennifer Ouellette
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Most Read
The Stepford Wives turns 50
Sure, the film has its flaws and feels a bit dated, but its lasting cultural influence is undeniable.
Jennifer Ouellette
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“Bouncing” winds damaged Houston skyscrapers in 2024
Strong localized winds can bounce due to interference between tall buildings, increasing pressure on walls and windows.
Jennifer Ouellette
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44
Study: Cuttlefish adapt camouflage displays when hunting prey
They can take on the features of a mangrove leaf or branching coral, or run dark stripes down their bodies.
Jennifer Ouellette
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13
Scientists unlock vital clue to strange quirk of static electricity
Formation of a triboelectric series depends on the number of contacts over time between materials.
Jennifer Ouellette
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47
3D map of exoplanet atmosphere shows wacky climate
"This planet’s atmosphere behaves in ways that challenge our understanding of how weather works."
Jennifer Ouellette
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47
Wheel of Time S3 trailer tees us up for Last Battle
“There’s not enough ale in the world to deal with this.”
Jennifer Ouellette
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Jurassic World Rebirth roars into theaters this July
"No one's dumb enough to go where we're going."
Jennifer Ouellette
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127
Scientists found a faster way to brew sour beer—with peas
The yeast cannot metabolize sugars derived from peas, thus promoting the growth of essential bacteria.
Jennifer Ouellette
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54
Gecko feet inspire anti-slip shoe soles
Adding zirconia nanoparticles to the mix enhances slip-resistant hydrophilic effects.
Jennifer Ouellette
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32
Marvel’s first family faces Galactus in Fantastic Four: First Steps teaser
"Whatever life throws at us, we'll face it together... as a family."
Jennifer Ouellette
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140
Let us spray: River dolphins launch pee streams into air
It's unclear why river dolphins do this, but it might serve some kind of social function.
Jennifer Ouellette
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58
Buoy meets satellite soulmate in Love Me
Ars chats with directors Andy and Sam Zuchero and props department head Roberts Cifersons.
Jennifer Ouellette
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15
Research Roundup: 7 cool science stories we almost missed
Peruvian mummy tattoos, the wobbly physics of spears and darts, quantum "cat states," and more.
Jennifer Ouellette
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44
This mantis shrimp-inspired robotic arm can crack an egg
Device can grab like a hand, crawl across the floor, or jump high, just by pulling on a simple muscle.
Jennifer Ouellette
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17
A telltale toilet reveals “lost” site shown in Bayeux Tapestry
A house in England is most likely the site of a lost residence of Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.
Jennifer Ouellette
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47
Alien: Earth will bring the horror home
The prequel series is set a couple of years before the events of the original 1979 film, Alien.
Jennifer Ouellette
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200
Complexity physics finds crucial tipping points in chess games
Physicist used interaction graphs to show how pieces attack and defend to analyze 20,000 top matches.
Jennifer Ouellette
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102
George R.R. Martin has co-authored a physics paper
"I couldn't help but wonder if a simple underlying model might tidy up the canon.”
Jennifer Ouellette
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162
Fast radio burst in long-dead galaxy puzzles astronomers
Result "challenges existing theories that tie FRB origins to phenomena in star-forming galaxies."
Jennifer Ouellette
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49
How to get a perfect salt ring deposit in your pasta pot
Particle diameter, height from which they fall through water, and particle volume are key factors.
Jennifer Ouellette
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81
Robotic hand helps pianists overcome “ceiling effect”
Passive training with robotic exoskeleton hand even led to motor improvements in the untrained hand.
Jennifer Ouellette
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70
Peeing is contagious among chimps
Physical proximity, social dominance are primary factors involved in "contagious urination" behavior.
Jennifer Ouellette
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52
Hollywood mourns the loss of David Lynch
What better way to honor the visionary director than with a watchfest of some of his greatest work?
Jennifer Ouellette
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114
Heroes, villains, and childhood trauma in the MCEU and DCU
"This study somewhat refutes the idea that villains are a product of their experiences." At least in fiction.
Jennifer Ouellette
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The trailer for Daredevil: Born Again is here
"The city can't be unchecked. Sometimes peace needs to be broken. And chaos must reign."
Jennifer Ouellette
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125
Up close and personal with the stag beetle in A Real Bug’s Life S2
It's just one of the many fascinating insect species featured in the second season of this NatGeo docuseries.
Jennifer Ouellette
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12
Skull long thought to be Cleopatra’s sister’s was actually a young boy
Skull found in ruins of Ephesos in 1929 thought to be Arsinoë IV is actually skull of 11-14-year-old boy.
Jennifer Ouellette
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27
Did Hilma af Klint draw inspiration from 19th century physics?
Diagrams from Thomas Young's 1807 Lectures bear striking resemblance to abstract figures in af Klint's work.
Jennifer Ouellette
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