Most
popular
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Telescope could
eavesdrop on alien TV
An enormous new telescope should be able to pick up TV
and radar signals from far-off worlds, scientists say. (Dec. 29, 2004)
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“Spray-on homes” invented
Spraying a fast-drying ceramic onto flimsy frames produces a
cheap, strong dwelling in a day, researchers say. (Dec. 26, 2004)
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Experts: almost anyone could torture
Under certain conditions, almost anyone is capable of becoming a
torturer, say
psychologists who reviewed decades’ worth of studies.
(Dec. 1, 2004)
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800 calories a day less, and women never missed them
Cutting back on calories is quite painless if temptation isn't around, researchers have found. (Dec. 1,
2004)
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Chimps
use
tool
kits,
researchers
say
They
use
a
set
of
different
sticks
to
fish
out
unlucky
termites
from
their
nests. (Nov. 11, 2004)
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Tiny
new
species
of
human
said
to
be
found
The
discovery
of
18,000-year-old
skeletons
on
an
Indonesian
island
shows
human
diversity
was
much
greater
than
expected,
scientists
say. (Oct. 27, 2004)
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Are
we
"programmed"
to
age?
(Sept.
27,
2004)
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“Garbage
crisis”
may
have
afflicted
world’s
first
villagers
The
first
people
to
settle
in
villages
apparently
gave
little
thought
to
what
to
do
with
their
trash.
So
they
lived
in
it. (Sept. 23, 2004)
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Did
fossils
inspire
ancient
flood
myths?
Many
ancient
and
modern
cultures
have
creation
myths
involving
a
great
flood.
A
physicist
has
proposed
a
new
explanation
of
why. (Sept. 6, 2004) |
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~
Egypt
Special (Sept. 1, 2004) ~
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Researchers
reconstruct
mummy’s
head
without
unwrapping They
used
a
scanning
technique
that
revealed
details
right
down
to
the
mole
on
his
temple.
Tunnel
to
king’s
secret
chamber
in
the
biggest
pyramid
may
be
found But
the
Egyptian
authorities
won’t
let
the
finders
dig
further
to
confirm
it.
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Explanation
for
deformed
frogs
emerging
It’s a tangled story of
a parasite, a snail, a bird, and, of course, a familiar player –
chemical pollutants.. (Aug. 24, 2004) |
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Having
AIDS
is
macho,
to
some
rural
Africans
One
man
bragged
that
he
would
cause
the
next
outbreak
–
because
he
had
bedded
all
the
desirable
local
girls. (Aug. 9, 2004)
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New
subatomic
particle
may
fuel
"dark
energy"
Findings
of
an
“acceleron”
may
help
explain
the
mysterious
“dark
energy”
that
makes
the
universe
expand
faster
and
faster.
(July
27,
2004)
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Does females'
promiscuity reduce our height differences? One researcher thinks that may be the case. It seems to be the pattern among our ape relatives, at least, he says.
(June 18, 2004) |
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Fish who share our personal shortcomings?
Add this to that file. Rainbow trout offended by a stronger member of their
group are smart – or pathetic – enough to vent their aggression on someone
weaker. (June 17, 2004)
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Genetically modified salmon: pushy, but not so tough
Environmentalists worry genetically modified animals could escape into the wild and run rampant, outcompeting natural species. But new tests suggest genetically engineered salmon
don’t compete successfully with their wild peers
–
though they try aggressively. (June 7, 2004)
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More
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Lab
tests “terrifying” for animals
The most harmless-seeming experiments trigger panic, a
controversial report claims. (Dec. 30, 2004)
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Lie
detector of the future: a brain scanner? Relax and control the sweating, and you might just fool
a traditional lie detector. Tricking something that peers into
your brain might be harder. (Dec. 29, 2004)
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Evolution’s
tricky shortcuts
Organisms may sometimes tame
“invader” genes and redirect
them to their own uses. (Dec. 29, 2004)
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Possible
next Tsunami victim: America's West Coast (Dec. 29, 2004)
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~
Spotlight on FOOD ~
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Are
“obesity genes” spreading?
Eating too much might not be the only reason we’re getting
fatter, researchers say. (Dec. 26, 2004)
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Not
the broccoli your mom told you to eat
Many important foods may have been
losing nutritional value thanks to modern farming practices,
researchers say. (Dec. 6, 2004)
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Newly
studied form of racism seems incurable
Many or most people are willing to
give up blatant racism. But a subtle form of it seems impossible
to renounce. (Dec. 21, 2004)
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Impulsive
acts may be a relic of hunter-gatherer past A study with blue jays may give new perspective on why we grab
those last-minute candies at the supermarket checkout line. (Dec.
14, 2004)
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Scientists
to shoot hole in a comet Scientists say their mission to blast a stadium-sized crater in
Comet Tempel 1, to better learn what’s
inside it, will begin by Jan. 12. (Dec. 14, 2004)
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Study:
mothers’ medications might turn developing daughters into
lesbians
But scientists say much more research is needed to confirm it.
(Dec. 14, 2004)
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New
way for paralyzed people to move things
To scientists’
surprise, they find there may be a way to let paralyzed people
move things with their thoughts
– and without sticking pesky wires into their brains. (Dec. 6,
2004)
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It’s
“official”: Mars had water
There is conclusive proof that water once existed on Mars, a team of researchers has
found. (Dec. 6, 2004)
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Alien
worlds in our backyard? Our solar system may have once exchanged small
planets and debris with another one, researchers say. At left:
scientists’
computer simulation of the process. (Dec. 1, 2004)
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Wasps punish “cheaters,” researchers find
A wasp’s markings can signify its importance in its group. And
wearing a fake badge may lead to unpleasant consequences. (Nov.
18, 2004)
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Scientists
zero
in
on
possible
anti-aging
gene
Chemicals
that
stimulate
the
gene
extend
life
in
yeast,
roundworms
and
fruit
flies.
Are
humans
next? (Oct. 25, 2004)
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New
ape ancestor found?
Scientists say they may have found bones of the last common
ancestor of the great apes, which include humans. (Nov. 18, 2004)
Species dying off at unprecedented rate, researchers say
15,589 species are at risk of extinction and least 15 have gone
extinct in the past 20 years, conservationists say. (Nov. 18,
2004)
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Why
babies are abandoned
By studying animals,
scientists are trying to understand the roots of a horrifying
practice. A key factor may be mothers’
inexperience, they find. (Nov. 18,
2004)
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Glitch
found
in
brains
of
schizophrenia
patients
The
finding
could
also
shed
light
on
the
processes
underlying
consciousness
in
all
of
us,
scientists
say. (Nov. 11, 2004)
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Planet-building
a
“messy,”
violent
process
Giant
chunks
of
rock
the
size
of
mountain
ranges
slam
together
to
form
planets,
scientists
say. (Oct. 25, 2004)
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Humans
have
far
fewer
genes
than
we
thought,
researchers
say
In
making
the
announcement,
scientists
add
that
they’re
beginning
to
systematically
pinpoint
which
genes
separate
us
from
other
animals. (Oct. 25, 2004)
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Scientists
watch
brain
"battle
itself"
during
tough
decisions
(Oct.
14,
2004)
How
dinosaurs
slept A
newly
found
fossil
shows
dinosaurs
slept
the
same
way
birds
do:
with
head
tucked
under
a
forelimb,
researchers
say.
(Oct.
14,
2004)
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The
evolution
of
spite
Researchers
are
taking
a
new
look
at
how
one
of
our
most
seemingly
irrational
tendencies
evolved.
Surprise:
it
might
not
be
that
irrational. (Oct. 14, 2004)
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Is
the
universe
revealing
its
shape?
New
evidence
suggests
the
shape
may
be
a
bizarre
form
of
a
dodecahedron,
a
12-sided
object. (Oct. 6, 2004)
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Sea
monster
fossil
tells
tales A
sea-dwelling
cousin
of
dinosaurs
may
have
used
its
neck
and
tiny
head
to
surprise
prey,
then
suck
it
in,
researchers
say. (Sept. 23, 2004)
Acupuncture
beats
conventional
treatment
in
study
(Sept.
22,
2004)
Mediterranean-style
diet
slashes
death
rates,
researchers
find
(Sept.
21,
2004)
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Children
create
new
language
nearly
from
scratch
Children
at
a
school
for
the
deaf
have
created
their
own
sign
language,
giving
scientists
insight
into
language’s
origins. (Sept. 16, 2004)
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Untapped
gas
reserves
deep
in
the
Earth?
(Sept.
13,
2004)
Happiness
may
stave
off
old-age
frailty
Growing
evidence
shows
psychological
factors
influence
the
aging
process. (Sept. 12, 2004)
Scientists
pinpoint
better
which
brain
areas
produce
dreams
(Sept.
10,
2004)
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Smash-
up
on
the
way
for
our
Milky
Way?
Photos
of
faraway
galaxies
reveal
what
might
happen
to
our
own.
At
left:
artists’
depiction
of
the
stellar
fireworks
that
could
result. (Sept. 9, 2004)
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Hubble
telescope
releases
stunning
new
photos
of
dying
star
(Sept.
9,
2004)
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Common
heart
defect
may
create
slight
risk
of
stroke
during
sex About
one
in
five
people
have
the
defect.
For
an
unlucky
few
of
them,
an
orgasm
might
be
a
prelude
to
a
hospital
stay. (Sept. 22, 2004)
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Possible
first
photo
of
a
planet
circling
a
distant
star It
could
be
a
holy
grail
astronomers
have
been
seeking
for
a
long
time. (Sept. 10, 2004)
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New
research may undermine idea that “race isn’t real” For years,
scientists have said the notion of human “races” is all in our
heads, because we’re all more than 99.9% the same. New findings cast
doubt on that figure. (Sept. 8, 2004) |
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For
talking
parrots,
it
just
might
be
all
in
the
tongue
(Sept.
7,
2004)
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In
U.S.A.,
“the
longer
you
stay,
the
bigger
you
get” Researchers
have
found
it
doesn’t
take
long
for
immigrants
in
the
country
to
start
putting
on
weight,
like
other
Americans. (Sept. 7, 2004) |
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“Mass
hysteria”
is
alive
and
well,
researchers
say
In
medieval
times,
when
whole
groups
of
people
started
acting
oddly,
someone
would
end
up
at
the
stake.
Today
the
phenomenon
meets
with
more
compassion,
but
the
same
befuddlement. (Sept. 6, 2004) |
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Ratings
of
20
medical
journals
published
(Sept.
5,
2004)
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Study
sheds
light
on
road-following
by
pigeons
(Sept.
3,
2004)
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Chimp-like
hominid
walked
upright
six
million
years
ago,
researchers
say
(Sept.
2,
2004)
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Monkeys
may
make
“comments,”
researchers
say
Their
communication
abilities
turn
out
to
be
unexpectedly
complex. (Sept. 2, 2004)
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News
reports
of
signal
from
extraterrestrials
off-base,
according
to
scientists
(Sept.
2,
2004)
|
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Scientists
fear
Ebola
outbreak
may
explain
gorilla
disappearances
(Sept.
2,
2004)
|
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World’s
first
plastic
magnet
passes
“test”
It’s
reported
to
be
the
first
plastic
magnet
to
work
at
room
temperature. (Sept. 1, 2004)
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“Major new class” of more Earth-like planets discovered
The
findings
also
indicate
there
may
be
20
billion
or
more
planetary
systems
in
our
galaxy,
astronomers
say. (Aug. 31, 2004)
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Brain
imaging
reveals
why
punishing
feels
good It
stimulates
an
area
deep
in
the
brain
that's
associated
with
reward. (Aug. 30, 2004)
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The
secrets
of
“wannabe
eunuchs” A
surprising
number
of
men
want
to
be
castrated.
The
body-piercing
fad
may
be
influencing
some
of
them,
say
researchers
studying
the
phenomenon.
(Aug. 24, 2004) |
Brain
flexibility,
not
size,
gave
us
our
intelligence,
researchers
say Good
genes
may
have
enabled
humans
to
develop
a
“complex
symbolic
culture,”
which
in
turn
pressured
us
to
develop
better
genes.
(Aug. 24, 2004)
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Meteorites
may
have
supplied
chemicals
crucial
to
start
life
Researchers
say
this
finding
also
suggests
a
Jupiter-sized
planet
could
help
life
get
started,
and
the
formation
of
planets
and
of
life
are
more
intricately
linked
than
we
thought. (Aug. 24, 2004) |
|
More
than
a
month
after
smoking
pot,
users
may
have
abnormal
brain
patterns
The
study
may
come
as
a
relief
to
marijuana
opponents,
who
previously
had
been
faced
with
a
series
of
studies
suggesting
the
drug
is
relatively
harmless. (Aug. 18, 2004) |
|
Want
sex?
Take
a
number
Animals
such
as
clownfish, in seeming violation of every
normal
instinct, patiently
wait
to
become
leaders
of
their
group
before
breeding.
Researchers are learning why this might be. (Aug. 17, 2004)
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"Indirect
aggression"
in
media
may
harm
us,
researchers
say
We
all
know
that
watching
people
killing
each
other
on
TV
is
supposed
to
be
bad
for
us.
But
what
about
people
being
just
plain
mean
on
TV? (Aug. 26, 2004) |
|
Biologists
deciphering
complex
lemur
scent
language
These animals have a rich
language of “scentences,” researchers say, to communicate messages
ranging from aggression to mating readiness. (Aug. 16, 2004)
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"Virus"
vaccines
may
create
new
and
worse
diseases,
researchers
warn
Some
vaccines, intended to prevent disease, may
create new and more dangerous
ones. (Aug. 9, 2005) |
New theories
on
solar
systems
may have little room for other
"Earths"
New theories may be needed to explain how
the
known
solar systems beyond our own formed, and
the
theories may
dampen hopes for
“Earth-like”
planets
there,
researchers
say. (Aug. 3, 2005)
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Songbirds
may
use
'dawn
chorus'
to
gather
intelligence
Songbirds
whose
sweet
tittering
awakes
us
in
the
morning
may
make
an
unexpected
use
for
the
ritual:
spying
on
rivals.
(July
31,
2004)
Researchers
pinpointing
causes
of
autism
Biologists
are
investigating
the
brains
of
victims
of
the
disorder,
which
disrupts
communication
and
social
functioning. (July 31, 2004)
"Monster
waves"
are
common,
researchers
say
Researchers
say
satellites
have
shown
that
ten-story
high
ship-sinkers,
once
dismissed
as
fantasy,
are
not
only
real
but
widespread.
(July
27,
2004)
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In
insect
societies,
order
through
discipline
Wasps
seem
to
“discipline”
each
other
for
not
working
hard
enough. (July 21, 2005)
|
|
Astro-sleuths
unravel
marathon
mystery
Using
moon
records,
astronomers
show
commonly
accepted
date
of
first
marathon
may
be
off.
(July
21,
2004)
Apes
threatened
again
–
by
anthrax
Anthrax
has
killed
six
apes
in
the
African
rainforest,
an
area
not
previously
associated
with
the
disease,
researchers
say.
(July
21,
2004)
Scientists
close
in
on
aging
secrets
It's
long
been
known
that
a
near-starvation
diet,
oddly,
makes
you
live
a
lot
longer.
Scientists
are
finding
out
why
that
works
–
and
how
we
might
be
able
to
get
the
gain
without
the
pain. (July
14,
2004)
Our
environmental
destruction
affects
dinner
Thanks
to overfishing,
the
red
snapper
on
your
menu
might
well
not
be
a
red
snapper. (July 14, 2004)
Black
holes
looking
less
and
less
'black'
Black
holes,
traditionally
assumed
to
be
sullen,
dark
objects,
may
actually
give
off
signals
that
betray
what
fell
inside
them. (July 12, 2004)
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|
Ancient
brewery
found
Archaeologists
have
found
remains
of
a
large-scale
brewery
from
a
pre-Incan
culture
of
the
first
millennium
AD
in
Peru. (July 9, 2004) |
|
Birds show superior listening skills Being called a bird-brain might not be so bad, after all.
(July 2, 2004)
|
|
How
'near-death experiences' change the brain
After
brushes with death, some people report newfound peace and
spiritual awakenings. Researchers are learning
what brain changes accompany these experiences. (June 28, 2004) |
|
Saturn
moon
may
be
a
captured
comet
New
images suggest
it’s a
dark,
icy
object
that
may
have
come
from
distant
reaches
of
the
solar
system. (June
23,
2004)
Less
may
be
more
when
it
comes
to
brain
use
(June
17,
2004)
|
Beauty and ugliness stimulate the same brain region Humans use the same brain area, and very possibly the same cells, to perceive both beauty and
beastliness, scientists report. (June 7, 2004)
|