|
"Long
before it's in the papers"
June 06, 2013
RETURN
TO THE WORLD SCIENCE HOME PAGE
PAST
NEWS - 2006
Most
popular
|
|
Oldest known ritual: python worship, archaeologist says
Snake-worship in Stone-Age Africa might have been the first human ritual,
if new findings are correct. (Nov. 30, 2006)
|
|
Genes
may help predict infidelity, study finds
Could DNA tests tell you your risk of being cuckolded? Scientists think
they might. (Nov. 30, 2006)
|
|
Human,
chimp lineages interbred after splitting, study suggests
Darwin’s claim that we descend from ape-like creatures,
shocking to some, may seem easy to stomach compared with new
findings. (May 17, 2006)
|
|
Another
universe may have preceded ours, researchers claim
Physicists say they have calculated what might have happened
before the Big Bang. (May 14, 2006)
|
|
Studies find logic lurking in madness
A widespread suspicion that insanity and rationality are related is not without basis, researchers have
found. (May 4, 2006)
|
|
“Missing
link” walking-fish fossils awe scientists
Paleontologists say a newly discovered organism could become an
evolutionary icon. (April 5, 2006)
|
|
One
universe or many? A panel debates
Physicists brawled over a question that’s nearly unanswerable, yet somehow very alive in science today.
(March 30, 2006)
|
|
Can mice succumb to Mozart?
Few if any people would claim that rodents like Mozart. But three research groups say this much: his music does something for them.
(March 25, 2006)
|
|
|
|
To 3-month-olds,
race matters, studies find
Early in life, many of us start to prefer faces of people from our
own
race to others, researchers say. (Feb. 12, 2006)
|
|
Robot
maps ancient shipwreck
Researchers have used an underwater robot to map remains of an
ancient Greek cargo ship. (Feb. 2, 2006)
|
|
Baboons
seek “comfort” after deaths in the family
When a lion killed Sierra the baboon, her mother looked to
friends for support. (Jan. 30, 2006)
|
|
Explaining
“stolen” memories
Are all your memories really yours? Researchers are exploring why
you can’t necessarily count on it. (Jan. 21, 2006)
|
|
Skepticism
greets claim of possible alien microbes
A paper to appear in a scientific journal is raising eyebrows, claiming a
strange red rain may have recently brought cells from space to Earth. (Jan. 5,
2006)
|
|
|
|
|
-
Other highlights -
|
|
Bush administration proposes
to list polar bears as
“threatened”
Environmentalists hailed the move as a possible major shift in direction
for U.S. policy on global warming. (Dec. 27, 2006)
|
|
Even
rats may dream in pictures, study finds
Researchers reported some of the strongest evidence to date that
animals, like humans, have sleep imagery. (Dec. 19, 2006)
|
|
Surprises in comet dust
Dust gathered from a comet and brought to Earth tells a tale of a solar system
that partially turned itself inside out, researchers say. (Dec. 14, 2006)
|
|
“Trust
hormone” now tied to “mind reading”—and increasingly, autism
An unusual hormone has a growing list of documented powers, some of
them surprising—and intriguing to scientists hunting autism
treatments. (Dec. 13, 2006)
|
|
Mammals
might have flown before birds, scientists claim
An ancient squirrel-like, gliding beast differed from all known orders of
mammals, a study suggests. (Dec. 13, 2006)
|
|
~ Special
report ~
|
Why laughter is contagious
You can catch it without asking for it, or even necessarily wanting
it. Now, scientists say they have an idea of why. (Dec. 12, 2006)
|
Humor
beats disease, researchers find
Scientists are reporting what they call
most direct evidence yet that ability to laugh saves lives.
(Dec. 12, 2006)
|
|
|
|
|
Hysteria is
real: study
Hitherto unexplained cases of partial paralysis or numbness may
have a physical cause after all, scientists say. (Dec. 11, 2006)
|
|
Drastic speedup in Arctic melting forecast
Arctic summers could be nearly ice-free by 2040, new research suggests—much
sooner than previous forecasts have predicted. (Dec. 11, 2006)
|
|
Drastic speedup in Arctic melting forecast
Arctic summers could be nearly ice-free by 2040, new research suggests—much
sooner than previous forecasts have predicted. (Dec. 11, 2006)
|
|
Water
may still flow on Mars, scientists say
NASA photos have revealed bright new deposits in two gullies on
the red planet. (Dec. 6, 2006)
|
|
Galactic evolution both “nature” and “nurture”
Galaxies evolve as a result of influences from their surroundings, astronomers
have found. (Dec. 6, 2006)
|
|
NASA announces lunar base plan
The space agency has announced plans to build a permanent lunar base by 2024.
(Dec. 4, 2006)
|
|
City birds sing their own tune
Members of a bird species that have adapted to city life sing a shorter, sharper, faster song than
their forest kin, a study has found. (Dec. 4, 2006)
|
|
Hard, brutal lives for Neanderthals
Neanderthal remains from Spain speak of malnutrition and possible
cannibalism, researchers report. (Dec. 4, 2006)
|
|
Gene
“archaeology” sheds light on male pregnancy
A gene might help explain why males get pregnant among members of the seahorse
family, according to biologists. (Dec. 4, 2006)
|
|
Ancient sky calculator awes scientists
A 2,000-year-old computer could transform our view of the ancient world,
according to researchers. (Nov. 29, 2006)
|
|
Success may be a
“family affair”
A study has led researchers to speculate that career success may be
partly genetic. (Nov. 29, 2006)
|
|
Science teachers’ association accused of oil company influence
After the top U.S. science teachers’
group spurned some free DVDs, a controversy erupted over a reason they
gave for the decision. (Nov 27, 2006)
|
|
Backache? Sitting upright could be culprit
“Dignified” might not always equal healthy, a study suggests. (Nov. 27, 2006)
|
|
Pot may be good and bad, researchers
propose
The truth about marijuana might be more complex than either its
foes or its champions suggest, some scientists argue. (Nov. 25, 2006)
|
|
We’re more genetically diverse than thought: study
Research has found that at least one in 10 human genes vary in the number of copies of certain DNA sequences.
(Nov. 23, 2006)
|
|
A step toward
quantum computers
Physicists say they’ve taken a step toward making computers that work at blinding speeds
thanks to the weird realities of quantum physics. (Nov. 22, 2006)
|
|
One cell makes almost any heart tissue, study finds
New research could be a stride forward for therapy to rebuild hearts, but its use of embryonic cells may stir controversy.
(Nov. 22, 2006)
|
|
Molecules
may “anchor” memories in brain
Our brains nail down memories by using special proteins as anchors, a study suggests.
(Nov. 21, 2006)
|
|
Extreme black hole pushes spin
“limit”
A black hole’s blindingly fast rotation could help explain some
strange phenomena, physicists say. (Nov. 21, 2006)
|
|
Monkeys
using perfume? Study investigates
Some wild spider monkeys dab on a chewed-leaf paste that may act as a sort
of cologne, researchers say.
(Nov. 17, 2006)
|
|
Red wine ingredient found to boost endurance
A substance earlier linked to long life in animals, also “re-programs” muscle to
double endurance, a mouse study indicates. (Nov. 16, 2006)
|
|
“Dark
energy” an age-old phenomenon, study finds
A weird force pushing our universe outward has existed since near the beginning,
astrophysicists say. (Nov. 16, 2006)
|
|
Neanderthal DNA
partially sequenced
Scientists have preliminarily mapped out when the stocky human cousins diverged from our species.
(Nov. 16, 2006)
|
|
Cleansing nuclear fallout from the body
A U.S. government scientist envisions purging the body of fallout
with a compound from crab shells. (Nov. 13, 2006)
|
|
Physical activity
might explain vets’ risk for wasting disease
A report has found “limited and suggestive evidence” that military service
raises the risk for Lou Gehrig’s disease. (Nov. 10, 2006)
|
|
Gay men likelier to gamble addictively, study suggests
A small study may fuel a charged debate over why homosexuals, as growing
evidence suggests, suffer addictions unusually often. (Nov. 9, 2006)
|
|
Laser reveals hidden earthquake “time bombs”
Using an aircraft-mounted laser, scientists say they’ve found quake-prone fault lines
concealed by woods. (Nov. 8, 2006)
|
|
Mystery of sudden infant deaths
solved?
“Sudden infant death syndrome” results from abnormalities in the brain stem, a primitive brain region, a study
suggests. (Nov. 8, 2006)
|
|
Pollution may impair brain development worldwide, researchers say
A “silent pandemic” may have boosted the number of retarded people while sapping the ranks of the intelligent,
authors of a new study claim. (Nov. 7, 2006)
|
|
Saturn moon resembles Earth at life’s birth, study finds
Hazy skies on early Earth, similar to those on Saturn’s moon Titan, could have provided the
ingredients for life, chemists say. (Nov. 6, 2006)
|
|
Testosterone levels dropping,
research finds
Scientists cited a “substantial,” unexplained drop in American men’s testosterone levels
in the past two decades. (Nov. 4, 2006)
|
|
Almost no more seafood after 2048 at current rates, study
warns
Seafood will be all but a memory if fishing and pollution go on at
current rates, a study warns. (Nov. 2, 2006)
|
|
Brain scans examine
“speaking in tongues”
People lose control of their speech in a mysterious
religious practice, scientists report. (Nov. 11, 2006)
|
|
Antimatter rays studied as medical treatment
Scientists are studying what could arguably be the first use of an exotic substance, antimatter, in medical
treatment. (Nov. 2, 2006)
|
|
Study: red wine substance
extends life, counteracts bad diet
A compound found to extend lifespans in various small animals, does
so even in mice on fatty diets, researchers say. (Nov. 1, 2006)
|
|
Elephants recognize mirror image; elephant ancestor
found
Two new studies make strides in elephant biology, according to
scientists. (Oct. 30, 2006)
|
|
More evidence for Neanderthal-human mixing claimed
A study has concluded that some long-ignored fossils are
blends of human and Neanderthal. (Oct. 30, 2006)
|
|
The
newborn mind’s not-quite “blank slate”
New findings may shed light on the old nature-nurture debate,
researchers say. (Oct. 30, 2006)
|
|
Report: dinos took repeat pounding before final exit
A new account of the reptiles’ demise demotes a famous meteor impact to a
secondary role. (Oct. 26, 2006)
|
|
Oldest complex organic molecules found in fossils
Ancient molecules from creatures known as sea lilies offer a new way to map evolution, scientists say.
(Oct. 25, 2006)
|
|
Exotic new particles reported found
Scientists have reported discovering two new subatomic particles, rare but important relatives of the commonplace proton and neutron.
(Nov. 16, 2006)
|
|
Math vs. vampires: vampires lose
Researchers have laid to rest one source of Halloween nightmares. (Oct. 25, 2006)
|
|
A wild, and gay, kingdom
Nature is prancing, fluttering and altogether teeming with gay animals,
say organizers of the first museum exhibition on the topic. (Oct. 24, 2006)
|
|
Bizarre
underworld microbes raise hopes for alien life
Bacteria found deep in a gold mine rely on radioactive uranium’s
energy to live, scientists say. (Oct. 19, 2006)
|
|
Pot against Alzheimer’s?
Research suggests the widely maligned drug may protect against a devastating brain illness.
(Oct. 18, 2006)
|
|
Facial
expressions may be inherited: study
The blind make similar facial expressions as their relatives, researchers
have found. (Oct. 16, 2006)
|
|
Yes, we
have no blue bananas
Color perception depends partly on expectations,
a study suggests. (Oct. 15, 2006)
|
|
Paper
challenges bedrock law of nature
The conservation of energy law states, in essence, that there’s no
free lunch. But is there?
(Oct. 14, 2006)
|
|
The science of dough
The squishy bread ingredient has become an object of engineering
studies. (Oct. 14, 2006)
|
|
Tiny
genome may be melting away, study suggests
Researchers have identified the smallest cellular genome, and say it may suffer a strange fate.
(Oct. 12, 2006)
|
|
Earth’s wobbles may explain some extinctions, research finds
Wobbles in Earth’s orbit may explain a puzzling cycle
of extinctions, scientists say. (Oct. 11, 2006)
|
|
Strongest evidence yet that planets form from
“disks”
The philosopher Emmanuel Kant got it right 200 years ago, researchers proclaim.
(Oct. 9, 2006)
|
|
For
ants, one playbook fits many situations
Scientists are interested in the “algorithms,”
or step-by-step rules, by which organisms make decisions.
(Oct. 9, 2006)
|
|
Fitness,
childhood IQ may affect old-age brain function
Mental function in old age depends more on fitness
than on childhood IQ, a study has found. (Oct. 9,
2006)
|
|
Computers
help churn out cancer remedies
Scientists are working on ways to make computers
churn out new cancer treatments, with no need to figure
out how they work. (Sept. 29, 2006)
|
|
Beauty:
that which is easy to understand
Beautiful faces may be that way because our brains
process them easily, a study has found. (Sept. 28,
2006)
|
|
Burglars
found to be as skilled as pilots
Burglars are so good at robbing houses, they can
be considered experts in their field, two psychologists
say. (Sept. 27, 2006)
|
|
Scientists
attack mysteries of Mona Lisa
For centuries she has given us mysterious looks.
Now researchers claim to have cracked some mysteries
of the painting itself. (Sept. 26, 2006)
|
|
Cancer-free
suntans coming?
Scientists are testing a lotion that they say
gives a natural suntan while lowering cancer
risk—rather than raising it. (Sept. 26, 2006)
|
|
Physicists
seek to put one thing in two places
Researchers say they’ve made an object move just by
watching it, which is inspiring them to a still
bolder project. (Sept. 25, 2006)
|
|
Earth
hottest in 5,000 years, study suggests
A further slight increase will produce dangerous
sea level rises and species exterminations,
scientists warn. (Sept. 25, 2006)
|
|
Chemistry
defeats the “Godzilla of odors”
Chemicals known as isonitriles have a stench so
vile, its victims claim to suffer mental scars for
a while. (Sept. 25, 2006)
|
|
“Lucy’s
Baby”: pre-human fossil dazzles scientists
Human-like below the waist, ape-like above, an ancient
child is galvanizing the study of our origins.
(Sept. 20, 2006)
|
|
Woman
gets “bionic arm”
A new device is meant to let amputees move artificial
arms just by thinking. (Sept. 14, 2006)
|
|
Planet
“lighter than cork” baffles astronomers
An unknown mechanism may heat some planets
internally, puffing them up, researchers
say. (Sept. 14, 2006)
|
|
Ancient
writing system said to be found
Archaeologists report the oldest writing
system known in the New World. (Sept. 14, 2006)
|
|
Neanderthals
hung on tough, study finds
Neanderthals didn’t give up on existence
easily, scientists report. (Sept. 13, 2006)
|
|
Arctic
meltdown?
Arctic sea ice is hitting record lows, probably
due to global warming, NASA researchers say.
(Sept. 13, 2006)
|
|
Voices
in your head might be good
Psychologists have launched a study to learn why
some people consider voices in their heads helpful.
(Sept. 13, 2006)
|
|
Green
tea may save lives, researchers find
A Japanese study links the beverage to lower
death rates. (Sept. 12, 2006)
|
|
Baby
bugs team up for sex scam
The moment they’re born, beetles of one species
join forces for a curious drill. (Sept. 11, 2006)
|
|
“Vegetative”
patient thinks, study suggests
Brain imaging peers into the inner lives of people
thought to be totally unresponsive. (Sept. 11,
2006)
|
|
Eye
photos might deter crime, police say following research
An unusual experiment is the inspiration
for a new police campaign. (Sept. 8, 2006)
|
|
Paintings
really can be “heard,” scientist says
It seems the artist Kandinsky wasn’t talking
nonsense when he said his pictures could be heard.
(Sept. 7, 2006)
|
|
Gene
fights cancer by aging us, studies find
Biologists say they’ve found a gene that protects
against cancer by suppressing cell division—making
us age faster. (Sept. 6, 2006)
|
|
~ Focus:
PLANETS ~
|
Livable worlds abound,
simulations find
Computer studies indicate Earth-like planets, warm and wet enough for
life, should be plentiful. (Sept. 7, 2006)
|
Lost
planet, or vastest system?
A planet thought to drift alone may instead help form the most far-flung planetary
system known, scientists say. (Sept. 5, 2006)
|
Protest over new planet definition
More than 300 astronomers have signed a petition protesting a redefinition
of “planet” adopted officially last month. (Sept. 5, 2006)
|
|
|
|
Most
dinosaurs still unaccounted for, study finds
Researchers say 71 percent of dinosaur types
have yet to be discovered. (Sept. 5, 2006)
|
|
Invisible 9/11 victims: the unborn
Stress over the 2001 attacks apparently triggered hundreds of miscarriages
if not more, studies have found. (Sept. 1, 2006)
|
|
NASA
awards contract for moon craft
Lockheed Martin Corp. won a contract to build a
manned spaceship. (Aug. 31, 2006)
|
|
Bird
attacks a force in human evolution?
Prehistoric raptors may have routinely targeted
our ancestors for meals, scientists say. (Aug. 29, 2006)
|
|
|
A
trip to cannibal country
A journalist ventures into one of the last
places on Earth where humans eat each other, and
like it. (Aug. 29, 2006)
|
|
|
Researchers
create permanently “happy” mice
A breed of permanently “cheerful” mice is providing
hope for depression treatment, scientists report.
(Aug. 24, 2006)
|
|
|
Pluto
no longer a planet
A newly adopted definition of “planet”
shuts out a longtime member of the planetary club. (Aug.
24, 2006)
|
|
|
New
stem cell technique would avoid killing embryos
Scientists say they’ve managed to grow human
embryonic stem cells by a method that can leave embryos
intact. (Aug. 23, 2006)
|
|
|
Jilted
dogs feel intense jealousy, study finds
New research challenges long-held scientific
beliefs about animal emotions. (Aug. 22, 2006)
|
|
|
Stupendous
crash proves “dark matter” exists, astronomers claim
The most forceful known collision in the universe
has torn apart normal and dark matter, researchers
say. (Aug. 21, 2006)
|
|
|
Ants’
Olympic jumps caught on tape
New high-speed videoclips show how certain ants
manage to jump 40 times their own length. (Aug. 21,
2006)
|
|
|
“Artificial
muscles” to liven TV color
Scientists are exploring a technology
that they say could produce more lifelike colors.
(Aug. 17, 2006)
|
|
|
A
gene that makes us human?
A newfound gene might help explain why our brains
are so big, researchers say. (Aug. 16, 2006)
|
|
|
Bringing
back the extinct
Mouse experiments are reviving the idea
that some extinct species can be resurrected.
(Aug. 14, 2006)
|
|
|
Now
downloadable: “music” of the stars
The ancient Greeks believed the stars participate
in a sort of celestial symphony. They had it
wrong—but not totally. (Aug. 13, 2006)
|
|
|
|
“Toxic
environment” making kids fat, study claims
Unhealthy, addictive food is behind today’s obesity
epidemic, a scientist says. (Aug. 11, 2006)
|
|
No
black holes after all?
One of the universe’s brightest and furthest known objects
might not be a black hole as traditionally thought, a
study suggests. (Aug. 11, 2006)
|
|
New
robot rolls on ball
“Ballbot” balances and moves on a metal ball instead
of legs or wheels. (Aug. 11, 2006)
|
|
Human-animal
mixing going too far, report says
An organization is warning that the creation of
fused organisms raises grave ethical questions.
(Aug. 9, 2006)
|
|
Driverless
cars to unclog traffic
Authorities in Europe are pushing a plan to ease traffic
and pollution through automated vehicles. (Aug. 9,
2006)
|
|
Call
for proposals to help save Earth
A group is offering grants to amateur and professional
astronomers to help find errant asteroids. (July 27,
2006)
|
|
Lowly
graphite stirs new excitement
Graphite, the common material used in pencils, can behave
in surprising ways, researchers have found. (July 25,
2006)
|
|
Diet
changes may not help fight cancer, studies find
New research suggests healthy diets have limited benefits
in cancer treatment. (July 23, 2006)
|
|
Ancient
“apartheid” leaves modern imprint
Genetic evidence reveals a system of official discrimination
in ancient England, scientists say. (July 19, 2006)
|
|
Animals
teach pups with surprising skill, scientists say
Meerkats instruct and encourage their young in
food-catching, according to a study. (July 15, 2006)
|
|
Climate
change boosting wildfires, study finds
Global warming may be driving wildfires in the Western
U.S., researchers claim. (July 11, 2006)
|
|
Strange
musical sounds draw scientific scrutiny
An acclaimed violinist conjures sounds from her instrument
that shouldn’t be possible. (July 14, 2006)
|
|
|
Sites
under review for telescope that could detect alien TV
Astronomers are working to choose a site for a giant telescope
that could read TV signals from distant civilizations.
(July 10, 2006)
|
|
Form
of “empathy” found in mice
Researchers say mice can feel each others’ pain, in a way.
(June 29, 2006)
|
|
|
Startling
variety in planetary birthplaces
Astronomers once thought the dusty clouds that spawn planets
all looked pretty much the same. But no more. (June 28, 2006)
|
|
|
Best
way to build brains of children: play with them
Love beats trendy toys, classes or music as brain food for preschoolers,
a report says.
|
|
|
Radioactive
scorpion venom deemed safe cancer treatment
Scientists are exploring an unusual new therapy
for an aggressive brain cancer. (June 26, 2006)
|
|
|
Human-dolphin
partnership inspires gov’t protection
The government of Myanmar has moved to safeguard a dolphin-fisherman
collaboration. (June 26, 2006)
|
|
|
The
science of sniping on eBay
A despised practice of placing last-second bids is actually
the best strategy in online auctions, according to
scientists. (June 25, 2006)
|
|
|
Oldest
known beads reported found
The finding may change scientists’ views of how human
culture emerged, researchers claim. (June 22, 2006)
|
|
Plant
has sex with itself
Many plants can fertilize themselves, but biologists
in China say they’ve found one that takes things a step further.
(June 21, 2006)
|
|
|
Earth
hottest in 400 years, report says
A report drafted by request of U.S. Congress paints a
stark picture of global warming. (June 22, 2006)
|
|
|
Arrests
lead to “origins” of Western painting
Authorities say a newfound, ancient tomb highlights
the need to protect Italy’s vulnerable heritage.
(June 17, 2006)
|
|
|
Ego traps us in
costly, losing battles, study finds
Failure. Why does it happen?
A common thread runs through many of our most painful, drawn-out fiascos,
researchers say.
(June 15, 2006)
|
|
AIDS
deadliness might be evolutionary accident, researchers say
AIDS would be a much milder condition, scientists claim,
were it not for a mutation affecting some forms of the
virus. (June 15, 2006)
|
|
|
In
study, two species become one
Researchers studying butterflies say they have the
first clear evidence that animal species can merge. (June
14, 2006)
|
|
|
Study
links migraines, sex drive
Contrary to the cliché, “Not tonight, I have a headache,”
a study has found migraine sufferers report greater sexual
desire than people with other types of headaches. (June
13, 2006)
|
|
|
Expedition
to study alien-like glacier
An Arctic island that has yielded sensational fossils
is now grabbing scientists’ attention for another
reason. (June 13, 2006)
|
|
|
Giant
“ball of fire” hurtling through space
Astronomers say they have found a vast, comet-like fireball
plowing into a distant cluster of galaxies. (June
12, 2006)
|
|
Fish
may avoid “sexual harassment,” researchers say
Female guppies seem to risk their lives to flee a barrage of
male advances, scientists have found. (June 9, 2005)
|
|
First
cancer vaccine approved
U.S. regulators have approved a vaccine designed to cripple the
virus responsible for cervical cancer. (June 9, 2006)
|
|
|
“Miniature”
dinosaurs surprise researchers
The biggest land animals that ever lived had some diminutive
cousins, a study has found. (June 7, 2006)
|
|
|
Cosmic
blasts could point to strange state of matter
Some mysterious explosions in space may signal the birth of
bizarre objects known as quark stars, researchers claim. (June
5, 2006)
|
|
|
Professor
unmasks “666” superstition
Prophesies of evil abound for dates or places where the number
666 occurs, including Tuesday, June 6: “6/6/06.” (June 4,
2006)
|
|
|
Mega-crater
linked to mass extinction before dinosaurs
Scientists say they have found the Earth’s biggest known
crater, and have linked it to the planet’s worst die-off.
|
|
|
Machine
might detect “dark matter”
A device due to switch on next year might detect the enigmatic
substance that pervades all galaxies, physicists say. (June
4, 2006)
|
|
Researchers
trace origin of an “altruism gene”
Probing an evolutionary mystery, scientists say they have penned
the first history of a gene for cooperation.
(May 29, 2006)
|
|
Humanoid
robot is a crowd-pleaser
Korean researchers have presented an “android” that can
simulate four emotions and knows 400 words. (May 25, 2006)
|
|
|
Invisibility
cloaks near?
Scientists have published equations showing how the
science-fiction devices could work. (May 25, 2006)
|
|
|
Race
of tiny people didn’t exist, scientists say
More and more researchers are disputing a 2004 study concluding
that miniature humans evolved on an island. (May 18, 2006)
|
|
|
Animals
may plan ahead, studies find
The investigations may be important for understanding the
evolution of foresight, according to an expert. (May 18, 2006)
|
|
|
Shedding
light on the origin of flowers
New research may help clarify a question that Darwin called an
“abominable mystery.” (May 17, 2006)
|
|
|
Bananas
could die out, group warns
Humans are wiping out wild bananas, and commercial varieties may
not be able to survive, U.N. officials say. (May 17, 2006)
|
|
One
gene change turns “cheating” microbe to role model
A discovery shows that simple mutations can transform complex
forms of social behavior, biologists say. (May 17, 2006)
|
|
Light’s
most exotic trick yet: so fast it goes backwards?
Physicists have managed in recent years to make light go faster
and slower than its normal speed limit. Now they report going
further. (May
12, 2006)
|
|
New
monkey genus created, first time in 83 years
A newfound monkey species is so unique, it requires a new
genus—but it’s gravely threatened, experts say. (May 11,
2006)
|
|
Fungus
said to attack iconic cave paintings
A mold spreading at the site of the famous Lascaux Cave
paintings has begun reaching the artworks themselves, a magazine
reports. (May 11, 2006)
|
|
Humans
may be off the hook for some ancient extinctions
New evidence has come to light in one of prehistory’s greatest
“whodunnit” stories. (May 11, 2006)
|
|
“Black”
features can sway jurors toward death penalty: study
Men who look stereotypically “black” are much likelier to be
executed than light-skinned blacks for similar crimes,
researchers say. (May 9, 2006)
|
|
Dolphins
may “name” themselves
Some dolphin whistles appear to convey information revealing
their identity, scientists claim. (May 8, 2006)
|
|
|
Lesbians
respond differently to human scents, study finds
New studies are expanding scientists’ investigations into
brain-influencing chemicals called pheromones. (May 8, 2006)
|
|
|
Ultra-fast
light pulses capture subatomic world
Researchers say they have used some of the shortest pulses of
laser light ever produced to better understand electrons. (May
8, 2006)
|
|
|
Fossil
may lie near root of fish, land animal lineages
Scientists are reporting a fossil that may represent a bridge
between land vertebrates and most of today’s fish species.
|
|
|
World’s
media duped by “pyramid” find, experts claim
Some prominent archaeologists are asking why newspapers
worldwide fell for what they call an absurd report of a Bosnian
pyramid. (May 3, 2006)
|
|
|
Polar
bears, hippos join list of threatened species
The list of species facing extinction is growing, a global
network of environmental groups and scientists announced. (May
2, 2006)
|
|
|
Engineered
virus makes cancer cells “eat themselves”
Researchers say they’ve created a virus that tracks down tumor
cells and forces them to devour themselves. (May 3, 2006)
|
|
|
Men
more jealous when lover most fertile, researchers say
Men become more jealous of dominant males when their female
partner is near ovulation, a study has found. (May 2, 2006)
|
|
|
From
sick kids, new insight into causes of aging
Scientists say they have found a key link between a devastating
“early-aging” syndrome and normal aging. (April 27, 2006)
|
|
|
Surprising
relationship between order, chaos
One of nature’s deepest puzzles is illustrated by some
surprisingly common events in which disorder seemingly helps
produce its opposite. (April 26, 2006)
|
|
Birds
grasp key rule of grammar, study finds
The European starling has an unsuspected ability to pick up
“human-only” language skills, researchers suggest. (April
26, 2006)
|
|
Face
transplant patient said to be healing
The world’s second face transplant, performed in China, has
been a success so far, Chinese media reported. (April 25, 2006)
|
|
Brain
cells that track values of objects
Researchers say they may have found some brain cells that
participate in our purchasing choices. (April 24, 2006)
|
|
Gene
found in disease that turns victims to “statues”
Scientists are unraveling secrets
of a devastating condition that turns muscle to bone.
(April 24, 2006)
|
|
Evidence
of pyramid reported in Bosnia
Archaeologists have unearthed stone slabs that they say could be
part of an ancient pyramid buried under a tall hill. (April 20,
2006)
|
|
Wall of galaxies tugs on
us, astronomers find
Scientists say they’re closing in on an understanding of the long-sought “Great Attractor.”
(April 19, 2006)
|
|
Huge
dinosaur may have hunted in “packs”
A newly described beast rivaling T. rex in size may shed
light on the social side of dinosaurs, researchers say. (April
18, 2006)
|
|
Frigid
lakes not the “life labs” they were thought to be?
Antarctic lakes locked under ice were thought to be totally
isolated, and thus to house exotic life forms. Maybe not. (April
19, 2006)
|
|
“Mediterranean”
diet linked to lower Alzheimer’s risk
A study tied fruit- and vegetable-rich diets to lower
Alzheimer’s disease rates among Americans. (April 18, 2006)
|
|
“Crying”
walrus pups may be orphaned thanks to global warming
Melting ocean ice may be leaving walrus pups stranded, according
to researchers. (April 16, 2006)
|
|
Premature
babies feel pain—but fetuses don’t, researchers claim
Two new reports shed light on some of the latest thinking on a
charged question: whether the unborn feel pain. (April 14, 2006)
|
|
Drug
trial disaster prompts call for new procedures
A medical journal has called for changing approval processes for
early-stage drug trials in the U.K. (April 13, 2006)
|
|
Newly
authenticated, ancient text claims Judas was no traitor
Researchers unveiled an ancient Christian manuscript that was
called heretical in its own time. (April 6, 2006)
|
|
Giant
black holes to collide, astronomers say
Two distant “supermassive” black holes are believed to be
spiraling into each other, and to a violent union. (April 6,
2006)
|
|
Evidence
of stone-age dentistry reported
Teeth as old as 9,000 years betray prehistoric trips to the
dentist, anthropologists say. (April 5, 2006)
|
|
Jesus
walked on ice, researcher says
A scientist has offered a provocative new account of the
biblical tale that Jesus walked on water. (April 5, 2006)
|
|
Scientists
rebuild bladders in lab
Researchers report for the first time successfully rebuilding
complex organs using lab-cultivated tissue. (April 3, 2006)
|
|
People
don’t recognize their obesity, study finds
Obese people tend to know their own weight, but they don’t
realize it constitutes obesity, scientists report. (April 4,
2006)
|
|
Differences
between men, women? The news they choose can be one
Both sexes sometimes use news reading as an anger-management
strategy, but they do so in opposite ways, a study suggests.
(April 3, 2006)
|
|
Study:
Insects contribute $57 billion to U.S. economy
The low-end estimate highlights what insects provide through
pollination, pest control and other services, researchers say.
(April 3, 2006)
|
|
Ocean
“dead zones” cause fish sex changes, scientists say
Pollution-induced lack of oxygen in parts of the oceans could
lead to sex changes that threaten fish with extinction,
according to a study. (March 31, 2006)
|
|
Saturn
“moonlets” suggest smashup created rings, study finds
Researchers also say there’s growing evidence of parallels
between ring formation and planet formation. (March 31, 2006)
|
|
Evolutionary
principles used to predict cancer
Like a diverse ecosystem, a tumor with highly diverse cells will
evolve more quickly—to cancer, a study has found. (March 29,
2006)
|
|
Brain
found to mature faster in highest-IQ kids
The thinking part of the brain thickens and thins faster as
high- intelligence youth grow, researchers say. (March 29, 2006)
|
|
Loneliness
linked to health risk
U.S. health officials say they’re seeking ways to ease
loneliness nationwide, as a study has tied it to to high blood
pressure and other health risks. (March 29, 2006)
|
|
New
type of comet may be source of our oceans, study finds
Three objects reported to look like comets, but act like
asteroids have grabbed scientists’ interest. (March 23, 2006)
|
|
Global
warming yields “glacial earthquakes”
Researchers are warning of dramatic sea level rises and a
newfound phenomenon, glacial earthquakes. (March 23, 2006)
|
|
Space rock risk underreported, researchers
say
Growing numbers of astronomers are questioning traditional
estimates of how often comets or asteroids hit Earth. (March 21, 2006)
|
|
In
new state of matter, echoes of an old symbol
A medieval emblem of three interlocking circles is finding new
life as a description of some special atomic interactions.
(March 16, 2006)
|
|
Was
“extinct” woodpecker sighting real?
Scientists debate whether a long-lost bird was really caught on
videotape. (March 16, 2006)
|
|
Astronomers
peer into the “first trillionth of a second”
New data help confirm that the newborn cosmos underwent a
stupendous growth spurt, scientists say. (March 16, 2006)
|
|
Hormone inspires animal “babysitting”
Researchers have long turned to animals to study how cooperation
evolved. New findings highlight the role of hormones. (March 15, 2006)
|
|
Scientists
develop method to view Sun’s far side
A new technique is said to make the Sun’s hidden face fully
visible for the first time. (March 15, 2006)
|
|
Saturn
moon may have liquid water, researchers say
Researchers say evidence of water reservoirs erupting in geysers
on the moon Enceladus may expand the search for alien life.
(March 9, 2006)
|
|
Study
examines how humans are still evolving
Scientists report finding more
than 700 genetic variants that evolution may have favored in the
past 10,000 years.
(March 8, 2006)
|
|
Baby
dino reveals secrets of its horns
Side by side, skull casts of an adult and baby Triceratops emphasize
the features that scientists say have made infants lovable over
the ages.
(March 7, 2006)
|
|
Pompeii
destruction wasn’t worst Vesuvius had to offer: study
Thousands of footprint trails attest to a mass flight from a
prehistoric village, geologists say. (March 6, 2006)
|
|
Scientists
predict solar storms with “unprecedented” accuracy
The next cycle of solar storms will be up to 50 percent stronger
than the last one and begin several months late, researchers
report. (March 7, 2006)
|
|
How
mega- vortices form: energy theft, researchers say
Energetic swirling structures, vortices, often form where fluids
flow irregularly or turbulently. (March 2, 2006)
|
|
Redrawn
“tree of life” favors hot-origins theory
A newly detailed map of evolutionary relationships suggests the
ancestor of all life forms dwelt somewhere hot, according to
researchers. (March 2, 2006)
|
|
Chimps
cooperate strategically, study finds
Chimps can assess how and when to work together, according to
scientists.
(March 2, 2006)
|
|
Molecule
blamed for “scar” in brains of the depressed
Using mice, researchers say they may have found molecules
related to a psychological “scar” that haunts depressed
people. (March 1, 2006)
|
|
Jurassic
“beaver” from China found
A fossil shows mammals conquered the water earlier than we
thought, researchers say. (Feb. 27, 2006)
|
|
Oldest
known remains of sea-faring ships reported
The discoveries include goods from the “lost” land of Punt,
a fabled Red Sea trading center, according to archaeologists.
(Feb. 27, 2006)
|
|
Scientists
report new kind of cosmic explosion
Astronomers say they have detected a new type of blast that has
sent scientists worldwide scrambling to telescopes. (Feb. 26,
2006)
|
|
Galaxy
smashups littered early universe, study finds
The biggest galaxies formed through repeated mergers billions of
years ago, astronomers say.
|
|
Acidifying
oceans could cause mass extinction, scientist warns
Researchers have found that Earth’s oceans are gradually
becoming a mild acid. (Feb. 21, 2006)
|
|
Your
DNA may reveal your last name
A study in Britain has found that men who share a surname are
often related, which could be useful to police. (Feb. 21, 2006)
|
|
Rats
found to understand cause and effect
The discovery contradicts common assumptions among scientists,
according to researchers. (Feb. 16, 2006)
|
|
Sex,
cleaner of genomes
Sometimes, evolution needs a little help erasing harmful
mutations. Sex may come to the rescue, a new study has found.
(Feb. 16, 2006)
|
|
Complex
decisions best left to your unconscious, study finds
It may be best to forget about a decision temporarily before
making it, scientists say. (Feb. 16, 2006)
|
|
Next
dinosaur news likely to come from small packages
Dinosaurs seem bigger than life. But the next big answers about
them may come from tiny remains, scientists predict. (Feb. 16,
2006)
|
|
Study:
stock market acts oddly before a crash
Before and after crashes, stock prices behave in some ways like
heartbeats and earthquakes, physicists have found. (Feb. 15,
2006)
|
|
“Dark
energy” might not exist, scientists say
Corrections to the law of gravity might explain effects usually
attributed to a mysterious force, some researchers propose.
(Feb. 14, 2006)
|
|
Tomb
discoveries stun
Archaeologists report the largest ancient Greek tomb found, as
well as the first tomb uncovered in Egypt’s Valley of the
Kings since that of King Tut. (Feb. 14, 2006)
|
|
Predicting
the next hit
Why are some songs so
much more popular than others? A study has found quality has a
bit to do with it, but peer influence much
more. (Feb. 9, 2006)
|
|
For
women, eating “good” fats found more important than eating
less fat
A popular theory that cutting fat intake alone helps prevent
cancer and heart disease is in question, a study has found.
(Feb. 7, 2006)
|
|
T.
Rex “Granddaddy” described as vicious little monster
Fossils suggest Tyrannosaurus Rex’s earliest
known ancestor was a fierce hunter who wore a crown for
the ladies, researchers say. (Feb. 7, 2006)
|
|
“Lost
World” of wildlife found in jungle
An expedition to an isolated Asian jungle revealed new species,
giant flowers and exotic animals unafraid of humans, scientists
report. (Feb. 7, 2006)
|
|
Making
“Pavlov’s Cockroach”
Scientists are trying to get cockroaches to drool on demand, as
dogs did in a famous Russian experiment. (Feb. 4, 2006)
|
|
“Ongoing
galaxy formation” detected
Astronomers report finding a blob of gas around a spiral galaxy,
evidence of the galaxy formation process. (Feb. 3, 2006)
|
|
Study
finds our cells may get old with us
A new finding could make it easier for scientists to study the
aging process. (Feb. 2, 2006)
|
|
When
déjà vu becomes unbearable
If you can’t watch TV because everything seems to be a
repeat—even the news—you may have a problem. Researchers are
looking into it. (Jan. 30, 2006)
|
|
Possible
“earliest” slave remains found
Researchers are studying remains of what they say may be some of
the earliest slaves brought to the Americas from Africa. (Jan.
30, 2006)
|
|
Can
you catch obesity?
If some researchers are right, you may soon be hearing a
surprising piece of advice to avoid obesity: wash your hands.
(Jan. 30, 2006)
|
|
Vaccine
gives “100%” bird flu protection in animal study
Mass vaccinations of livestock could help stop the avian flu
that is causing global concern, scientists suggest. (Jan. 28,
2006)
|
|
Searching
for extra dimensions
A new detector of elusive particles called neutrinos might
provide evidence for extra dimensions, researchers say. (Jan.
26, 2006)
|
|
New
lakes found beneath Antarctic ice
Scientists report finding the second and third largest known of
nearly 150 lakes locked under Antarctic ice. (Jan. 26, 2006)
|
|
Many
“Earths” out there, scientists say after planet find
A discovery is raising astronomers’ hopes that an Earth-like
planet will turn up before long. (Jan. 25, 2006)
|
|
Newfound
Roman tomb said to predate empire
A tomb found beneath
the Roman Forum could pre-date the ancient empire by hundreds of
years. (Jan. 21, 2006)
|
|
Love
and madness not that different?
Research over the past several years has clarified what happens
in the brain when we fall in love. (Jan. 20, 2006)
|
|
Volcano
plumes found to well from unsuspected depths
The liquid rock spewed by volcanoes originates much deeper than
previously thought, geologists say. (Jan. 20, 2006)
|
|
Pluto
mission launched
The spacecraft would rendezvous with the ice planet in 2015.
(Jan. 19, 2006)
|
|
Brain
scans betray our joy in others’ suffering
The satisfaction we sometimes feel if someone we dislike suffers
has an evolutionary role, some biologists argue. (Jan. 18, 2006)
|
|
Divorce
shreds wealth, study finds
A slide in wealth starts four years before divorce becomes
official, on average, according to research. (Jan. 18, 2006)
|
|
Smoking
in pregnancy may deform fingers, toes, researchers find
The effect, while uncommon, can occur even before a woman knows
she’s pregnant, doctors say. (Jan. 15, 2006)
|
|
Capsule
brings comet dust to Earth
Astronomers hope the dust will reveal facts about the origin of
our Solar System. (Jan. 15, 2006)
|
|
Study:
eating less may delay human aging
Scientists report the first evidence that a phenomenon long
noted in some animals may be true of humans. (Jan. 15, 2006)
|
|
Penguins’
wide stride tapped for movement improvement
The comical waddling motion of penguins may help humans and
robots walk better, a researcher says. (Jan. 13, 2006)
|
|
Global
warming sowing disease, extinction, researchers say
Climate change is promoting diseases that have killed off dozens
of amphibian species, and such illnesses could affect humans,
findings suggest. (Jan. 11, 2006)
|
|
Ants
teach each other to find food, study finds
Scientists say they may have the first documented case of
teaching among non-humans. (Jan. 11, 2006)
|
|
~
Spotlight: Galaxies & Black Holes
~
|
Milky
way “vibrating like a drum”
Our galaxy is warped, and vibrates like a drum
playing three deep, deep notes, a study
suggests. (Jan. 10, 2006)
|
Unsuspected
violence in the hearts of galaxies
Supermassive black holes are wreaking havoc in
galaxies that look peaceful, astronomers say.
(Jan. 10, 2006)
|
Galactic
mergers feed growing monster black holes: study
Mergers of galaxies provides a feast for giant
black holes lurking in them, astronomers have
found. (Jan. 10, 2006)
|
Black
hole “dents” space and time
Researchers report evidence that a black hole is
bending space and time, as Einstein predicted it
should. (Jan. 10, 2006)
|
|
|
|
|
Songbirds
remember dad’s tunes
Researchers say they have learned which brain area zebra finches
use to remember what their fathers sang. (Jan. 10, 2006)
|
|
Dogs
can detect lung, breast cancer early: study
Canines could help fight the leading killers among cancers
worldwide, researchers say. (Jan. 5, 2006)
|
|
Thriving
under our noses, stealthily: coyotes
Major U.S. cities are full of coyotes and the people don’t
even know it, researchers say. The beasts may even be quietly
helping us. (Jan. 5, 2006)
|
|
A
molecule that won’t sit still
Chemists say they have finally figured out the shape of a
molecule whose furious jiggling thwarted past attempts to study
it. (Jan. 5, 2006)
|
|
First
baby reported born from frozen commercial egg bank (Jan. 3,
2006)
|
|
|
|
-
More -
|
New
music-search system would do the "listening" for you
(Jan. 8, 2006)
|
|
|
Archive
2005
2004
|
|
|
|