Mosquito lovers "sing" in harmony
The insects responsible for the most malaria deaths find mates by using their wingbeats to produce tones that agree, a study reports.
(Dec. 31, 2009)
|
|
Power promotes hypocrisy: study
Behind 2009's scandal-ridden headlines lies a deeper psychological
pattern, researchers claim.
(Dec. 29, 2009)
|
|
Scientists create "memories" in isolated brain slices
Researchers say the effect occurred thanks to an obscure type of cell described in 1893 by a Spaniard dubbed the father of neuroscience.
(Dec. 27, 2009)
|
|
Females may harbor biological "inner male"
In female mice, switching off one gene seems to start turning the ovaries into testicles that produce male hormones, scientists report.
(Dec. 22, 2009)
|
|
Collisions and "vampirism" may make stars look newly young
Two processes can make some stars look much younger than they really are, astronomers have found.
(Dec. 26, 2009)
|
|
Moon like that in "Avatar" could be real
Habitable moons may well exist, perhaps even around the same star that illuminates the fictional Pandora, astronomers say.
(Dec. 20, 2009)
|
|
For some
stone-agers, home was where the hearth was
Some of our human ancestors may have organized their living spaces into different areas much earlier than previously thought.
(Dec. 17, 2009)
|
|
Violent conflicts fit into patterns, researchers find
The size and timing of violent events in human insurgent conflicts exhibit many similarities, a report says.
(Dec. 16, 2009)
|
|
First "super-Earths" found orbiting sun-like stars
Astronomers have reported finding as many as six planets, not many times heavier than Earth, orbiting two nearby Sun-like stars.
(Dec. 15, 2009)
|
|
Second "Mozart effect"? Premature babies may grow faster
Hearing classical music might make premature babies grow faster by reducing their energy expenditure, a study has found.
(Dec. 14, 2009)
|
|
Personalities judged by appearance alone in study
They say never to judge a book by its cover. But some aspects of a stranger's personality may be discernible from a photo.
(Dec. 11, 2009)
|
|
Fossils said to clarify dinosaur evolution
A new find indicates that dinosaurs split up early into three basic lineages, researchers say.
(Dec. 10, 2009)
|
|
Life on the Red Planet? Methane results boost hopes
A new study leaves microbes as one of just two possible explanations for how a "marsh gas" is formed on the red planet, according to scientists.
(Dec. 9, 2009)
|
|
Poor, misunderstood testosterone
Contrary to popular conceptions, the hormone may sometimes promote fair play.
(Dec. 8, 2009)
|
|
"Hammer" heads give sharks super vision: study
A TV "myth" dismissed
by some scientists
has turned out to be even truer than anyone
thought, some of those very researchers
now say. (Dec. 7, 2009)
|
|
Feeding birds could change their evolution
Feeding birds in winter is innocent fun, but it can have profound-and relatively quick-effects on a species, researchers say.
(Dec. 4, 2009)
|
|
Tattoos, piercings may advertise good health
Body decorations common since ancient times may exist because they signal "biological quality" to potential mates, a study proposes.
(Dec. 3, 2009)
|
|
To keep muscles strong, "garbage" has to go
To maintain muscle strength with age, cells must get rid of trash that accumulates in them, according to a
study. (Dec. 3, 2009)
|
|
Do black holes zap galaxies into existence?
Astronomers say they may have solved a long-debated chicken-and-egg problem. (Dec. 1, 2009)
|
|
Particle smasher becomes world's most powerful
After a year of troubles, the Large Hadron Collider is back. (Nov. 30, 2009)
|
|
America's
food waste laying "waste" to environment
Food waste contributes to global warming, researchers warn. (Nov. 25, 2009)
|
|
Video shows Saturn's northern lights
A spacecraft has spotted the tallest known "northern lights" in the solar
system, the auroras flickering high above Saturn. (Nov. 27, 2009)
|
|
Scientists make plastic without using fossil fuels
Researchers say they have managed to make plastics through "bio-engineering"
rather than using fuels that contribute to global warming. (Nov. 24, 2009)
|
|
Blame
game is "contagious"
The mere sight of someone in a group being blamed for a problem can lead to
a domino effect, researchers say. (Nov. 20, 2009)
|
|
Road rage? Gas fumes may heighten aggression
A study has found that rats exposed to gasoline fumes become more aggressive.
(Nov. 24, 2009)
|
|
Poop evidence exonerates humans in mammoth mystery
Giant mammals died out in North America before any well-known human populations
showed up, a study suggests. (Nov. 19, 2009)
|
|
Our
oceans, extraterrestrial material?
A conventional view that the atmosphere and oceans came from vapors
emitted during volcanism may be wrong, a a study says. (Nov. 17, 2009)
|
|
From chimps, new clues to language origins
Chimps seem to use the left half of the brain to communicate with gestures-just
as humans do to talk, researchers have found. (Nov. 16, 2009)
|
|
Lunar
water "confirmed"
Preliminary data from a NASA satellite shows the moon really does
have water, scientists say. (Nov. 13, 2009)
|
|
Stars' chemistry could give away planetary presence
Researchers say the finding not only could save money and time in planetary
searches, it also points to a solution to a longstanding riddle. (Nov. 11, 2009)
|
|
How could they? Poop-eating apes prompt quest for answers
Nature can be beautiful. Elegant. Graceful. But not always. (Nov. 10, 2009)
|
|
Ants
could inspire military strategies
A researcher has designed a system that uses ant colonies' behavior
to help plan troop movements on battlefields. (Nov. 9, 2009)
|
|
Language learning may start in womb
From their first days, babies cry differently depending on the language
of their parents, according to a new study. (Nov. 6, 2009)
|
|
It's not an earthquake-it's an aftershock from long ago
Some "earthquakes" that occur in unusual locations may really be aftershocks
of quakes centuries ago, a new report suggests. (Nov. 4, 2009)
|
|
Drunken flies could pave way for alcoholism cure
Intoxicated insects have helped scientists find networks of
genes-also present in humans-implicated alcohol drinking. (Nov. 3, 2009)
|
|
Inequality, "silver spoon" effect found in ancient societies
Inequality caused by handed-down wealth was well established long ago, a
study has found. (Nov. 2, 2009)
|
|
Technology could cool the laptop
"Spin" electronics may keep devices from overheating and give information
technology a unique twist. (Oct. 30, 2009)
|
|
Light from a cosmic "dark age"
Astronomers are reporting the discovery of the most distant object
ever discovered, from a time when the first stars were forming. (Oct. 28, 2009)
|
|
Being tortured may make people seem guilty
Some witnesses to torture see the victims as more guilty the more they suffer,
a study suggests. (Oct. 27, 2009)
|
|
No joke: new hope for painful "four-hour erection"
Hours-long erections may seem like a rich source of jests, but to victims,
the pain-and possible resulting impotence-is no laughing matter. (Oct. 26, 2009)
|
|
Near-black
hole conditions recreated, study says
Lasers can be used to generate extreme states of matter. (Oct. 20, 2009)
|
|
Obama election changed voter testosterone
Young men who voted for losing candidates suffered a drop in levels
of the hormone, researchers report. (Oct. 22, 2009)
|
|
"Superspreader" workers may trigger hospital outbreaks
Certain types of health-care workers may play a disproportionate role
in spreading germs, a theoretical study suggests. (Oct. 22, 2009)
|
|
New
space map reveals "mystery ribbon"
Findings don't fit with accepted models of the "solar wind" that helps shield our solar system.
(Oct. 15, 2009)
|
|
Scientists find out how moon makes own water: report
The moon absorbs particles from the Sun, which in turn combine with oxygen
in the dust to make water, researchers say. (Oct. 16, 2009)
|
|
Scientists report giving flies false memories
How do you get intelligence from parts that are unintelligent? A
group of researchers is exploring that. (Oct. 15, 2009)
|
|
“Loyal” gators said to display bird-like mating habits
Findings may help shed light on the ancestral mating systems of birds
and of many dinosaurs. (Oct. 12, 2009)
|
|
Giving among strangers more nurture than nature, study suggests
New research addresses the thorny issue of how altruism might have
evolved. (Oct. 13, 2009)
|
|
Distant moon may have oxygen in ocean
The abundant water in Jupiter’s moon Europa may have enough oxygen
to support animal-like life forms, a study suggests. (Oct. 9, 2009)
|
|
Huge "hidden" Saturn ring found
Astronomers are reporting the discovery of largest-known planetary
ring in the Solar System. (Oct. 7, 2009)
|
|
Could birth control pills alter mate choices?
Birth control pills may alter women’s abilities to choose, compete
for and retain mates, scientists say. (Oct. 7, 2009)
|
|
Buried coins may reveal population histories
Hidden hoards can help reveal the population trends of a given time period,
a new study suggests. (Oct. 5, 2009)
|
|
Pre-“Lucy”
fossils reveal secrets
The last common ancestor of chimps and humans was probably not as
chimp-like as widely believed, researchers report. (Oct. 1, 2009)
|
|
Color plays “musical chairs” in brain
A color divorced from the shape to which it “belongs” seems to go into
another one, scientists have found. (Oct. 4, 2009)
|
|
Hyenas cooperate better than chimps, study finds
The much-maligned, dog-like creatures may beat out our ape relatives in cooperative
problem-solving tests. (Sept. 30, 2009)
|
|
Key
to subliminal messaging: keep it negative, study suggests
Subliminal messaging is most effective when the message being
conveyed is negative, according to new research. (Sept. 28, 2009)
|
|
Rough day at work? You might not feel like exercising
If you use your willpower to do one task, it may deplete your willpower
for a totally different task, scientists say. (Sept. 29, 2009)
|
|
Lower IQ’s measured in spanked children
Only part of the effect is due to spanking itself, but still, laws should
be passed against spanking, some researchers say. (Sept. 24, 2009)
|
|
Exotic
life forms: looking for life as we don’t know it
A new research group is devoted to finding out how life might evolve using
chemicals not found in Earth-based life forms. (Sept. 23, 2009)
|
|
Moon may have water
Our moon is potentially not quite as dry as it is traditionally
thought to be, researchers say. (Sept. 23, 2009)
|
|
Study: torture produces unreliable information
Extreme stress appears to warp memories while motivating suspects to say
anything to stop the torture, new research claims. (Sept. 21, 2009)
|
|
Tiny
“T. rex” found
An ancestor of the giant predator resembles a miniature replica
of it, at 1/90 the weight, scientists say. (Sept. 17, 2009)
|
|
Negative public opinion seen as warning signal for terrorism
Terrorism is more likely when one country’s people dislike the leaders
and policies of another, a study has found. (Sept. 17, 2009)
|
|
Fungus-treated violin beats Strad in blind test
A newly developed type of violin won in a blind contest against one
made by the most famed violin maker of history. (Sept. 15, 2009)
|
|
Showerheads
may spray germs at you
Your morning scrubdown may give you more than you bargained for. (Sept. 14, 2009)
|
|
Brain activity might predict schizophrenia
A small area in our heads is linked to the earliest stages of a serious
mental illness, researchers say. (Sept. 12, 2009)
|
|
Memories may persist even when forgotten
Scientists have found that a person’s brain activity while remembering
an event is similar to when it was first experienced, even if specifics
can’t be recalled. (Sept. 9, 2009)
|
|
Graffiti “shield” may offer hope for paint-threatened landmarks
Graffiti mars many historic monuments, and can be hard to erase without
damaging the underlying surface. But help may be coming. (Sept. 11, 2009)
|
|
Cities work much like brains, study finds
Highway interconnections in cities are organized and evolve much
like brain connections, research suggests. (Sept. 5, 2009)
|
|
Artificial steps against global warming may be dangerous, necessary
Humanity is boxing itself into a corner when it comes to climate
change, scientists say. (Sept. 2, 2009)
|
|
Oldest known black hole reported found
New research could shed light on the origins of the most massive black
holes. (Sept. 3, 2009)
|
|
Tiny “nanolaser” could change face of computing, telecom
Researchers say they have created a device that can generate visible
light in a space smaller than a protein molecule. (Aug. 31, 2009)
|
|
Signs of recent Ice Age noted on Mars
The distribution of ground ice hints at a colder time in the Red Planet’s
past, researchers claim. (Aug. 28, 2009)
|
|
Brain region linked to sense of personal space
A new finding may shed light on the brain mechanisms involved in social behavior.
(Aug. 30, 2009)
|
|
Last great forest under threat, study finds
Scientists are calling for urgent preservation of the boreal forest across large stretches of Russia, Canada and other northern countries.
(Aug. 26, 2009)
|
|
For freeloader birds, careful counting comes in handy
A species of birds that freeload on other birds by dumping their offspring
on them, may employs sophisticated counting skills to carry out the
ruse. (Aug. 24, 2009)
|
|
Unguided, we really do go in circles, study finds
The popular wisdom about lost travelers is correct, research indicates.
(Aug. 20, 2009)
|
|
Technique reveals buried paintings in new way
A new X-ray method shows never-seen details of a painting hidden under another painting by illustrator N.C. Wyeth, researchers report.
(Aug. 19, 2009)
|
|
“Dance restaurant” theory of water takes shape
New studies suggest the molecular structure of water can be compared to a crowded restaurant with a dance floor.
(Aug. 14, 2009)
|
|
Building block of life reported found in comet
The finding supports a claim that ingredients for life might have come from space, according to NASA scientists.
(Aug. 18, 2009)
|
|
Small "epidemic" may have killed Mozart
A bacterial outbreak spread from a military hospital may have felled the
great composer, scientists say. (Aug. 17, 2009)
|
|
Cancer stem cells not drug-immune, researchers find
Scientists say they have found the first chemical that selectively kills cells that spawn deadly tumors.
(Aug. 13, 2009)
|
|
Crash destroyed little planet, scientists say
A NASA telescope is thought to have found evidence of a violent collision between two planets around a young star.
(Aug. 13, 2009)
|
|
Chicken-hearted tyrants? Dinos may have sought easy prey
Huge, meat-eating dinosaurs like T. rex seem to have preferred picking on youngsters, researchers say.
(Aug. 10, 2009)
|
|
Tiny deer, gliding frog among 100s of newfound species
A biological treasure trove threatened by climate change, the eastern Himalayas are still giving up secrets.
(Aug. 10, 2009)
|
|
Scientists report growing new teeth for mice, in place
The technique may be a step toward more advanced organ replacement
therapies, researchers propose. (Aug. 3, 2009)
|
|
Sharpest views of a colossal, violent, star
Astronomers have captured the sharpest views yet of the doomed “supergiant” star Betelgeuse.
(Aug. 3, 2009)
|
|
“Dream therapy” set for a comeback?
Similarities in brain activity between a special dreaming state and some forms of mental derangement are drawing interest from researchers.
(July 28, 2009)
|
|
Reflection is key to jewel beetle colors, scientists say
New studies could lead to applications including car paints that reflect different colors from different angles.
(July 24, 2009)
|
|
A new way to fix a broken heart?
Scientists have reportedly devised a method to to coax mature heart muscle cells into regenerating.
(July 24, 2009)
|
|
Astronomers: impact gives Jupiter bruise as wide as Pacific
Something apparently slammed into the giant planet in the last few days, scientists report.
(July 22, 2009)
|
|
Origin of raindrop size “revealed”
The sizes of raindrops result from the breakup of larger droplets, new high-speed films indicate.
(July 20, 2009)
|
|
Fossil poop balls reveal secrets of lost world
A study has revealed an intricate network of long-ago interactions in “mega-dung” from giant mammals.
(July 19, 2009)
|
|
Study turns pigeons into "art critics"
A Japanese researcher is reporting that he has trained birds to tell
apart "good" and "bad" children's paintings. (July 19, 2009)
|
|
Ocean current changes predicted to be gradual
Scientists have released a rare bit of hopeful news linked to global warming.
(July 18, 2009)
|
|
Cats are crafty manipulators, study finds
Anyone who has had cats knows how hard it can be to get them to do anything they don't want to do.
(July 13, 2009)
|
|
%#$!? Swearing may actually reduce pain
Unleashing verbal bombs might not show great self-control, but it sure seems to help people take pain better, scientists have found.
(July 12, 2009) (July 12, 2009)
|
|
Monkeys
live longer after eating lighter, research finds
Cutting calories by 30 percent seems to have remarkable effects, scientists
say.
(July 9, 2009)
|
|
A “theory of everything” is said to solve its first real-world problem
String theory, which postulates extra dimensions, has long been criticized for making promises that it failed to live up to.
(July 8, 2009)
|
|
People only sometimes seek out opposing views, research finds
People tend to avoid ideas they disagree with—but some factors can prompt them to seek out such points of view, scientists say.
(July 8, 2009)
|
|
Could coffee reverse Alzheimer’s?
Studies with mice are suggesting surprising new possibilities for treating the memory disorder, according to researchers.
(July 6, 2009)
|
|
Finding may help explain giant black holes
Astronomers are reporting that they have discovered a new class of black hole, the mid-sized one.
(July 1, 2009)
|
|
Scientists look to bat caves for “fountains of youth”
Scientists are batty over a finding they say could lead to a breakthrough—significantly longer lifespans.
(July 1, 2009)
|
|
Researchers
report capturing first image of memories being made
Researchers say they have captured the first image of a mechanism underlying long-term memory formation.
(June 28, 2009)
|
|
Flute said to be oldest handcrafted musical instrument
Early modern humans may have been dancing to bird-bone flutes as early as 35,000 years ago, scientists say.
(June 28, 2009)
|
|
Oceans in
Enceladus? Scientists can’t decide
Two contrasting findings are leaving researchers unsure whether a distant moon has underground oceans.
(June 24, 2009)
|
|
Need something? Talk to my right ear!
Most of us prefer to be addressed in our right ear, and are more likely grant a request when we hear it from the right, researchers have found.
(June 23, 2009)
|
|
Researchers find “a touch of glass” in metal
Metals and ceramics have more in common with glass than has been previously recognized, a new study indicates.
(June 18, 2009)
|
|
“Guilty look” in dogs mostly owners’ fantasy, study finds
People may see “guilt” in a dog’s body language when they think the dog did something wrong – even if it didn’t.
(June 15, 2009)
|
|
Brain energy use proposed as key to understanding consciousness
Some researchers are proposing a new way to understand a mysterious state of being.
(June 15, 2009)
|
|
Lion
tamers step aside: beasts could be tamed through genes
Recent research raises the prospect that humans could tame “untameable” species
in new ways. (June 17, 2009)
|
|
Birds didn’t come from dinosaurs,
study suggests
New findings about bird breathing abilities challenge entrenched
ideas, some scientists say. (June 12, 2009)
|
|
Giant black holes even
heavier than thought: study
New findings may affect the way astronomers theorize about galactic
evolution. (June 8, 2009)
|
|
“Warrior gene” found rife among young thugs
Boys with a particular variant of a gene are more likely to join gangs—and to be among their most violent members, researchers say.
(June 8, 2009)
|
|
Do
sex cells hold the secret to long life?
The secret of longevity may lurk within the genetic activity of
sperm and eggs, new research suggests.
(June 7, 2009)
|
|
Sandcastle secrets could help revive ancient building technique
The secret of a successful sandcastle could aid the revival of an ancient, eco-friendly building method, according to some engineers.
(June 5, 2009)
|
|
When evolution isn’t so slow and gradual
Guppies introduced into new habitats developed new and advantageous traits in just a few years, a study has found.
(June 2, 2009) (June 5, 2009)
|
|
Ocean acidification to trigger job losses, scientists warn
Ocean acidification, a consequence of human activity, is set to change marine ecosystems forever, researchers say.
(June 1, 2009)
|
|
Scientists follow the poop to track penguins from space
Nothing goes to waste for breeding colonies of emperor penguins in Antarctica.
(June 1, 2009)
|
|
“Language gene” alters mouse squeaks
Mice carrying a “humanized” gene can’t talk, but might tell us something about our evolutionary past.
(May 28, 2009)
|
|
No enforcement, no
trade-not for chimps
Scientists have managed to teach chimps to trade a primitive "currency."
But the creatures never quite ran with the idea. (May 28, 2009)
|
|
Technique would detect watery worlds
An Earth-like planet would appear in telescopes as little more than a “pale blue dot.” What could we make of that?
(May 27, 2009)
|
|
Green tea extract reported to show promise against leukemia
Scientists are reporting positive results in early clinical trials using a substance in green tea.
(May 27, 2009)
|
|
“Swine Flu” was circulating undetected, scientists say
All segments of the virus originated in avian hosts and began circulating in pigs at various times in the 1900s, according to investigators.
(May 23, 2009)
|
|
Earliest cells might have thrived amid asteroid pummeling
The so-called Late Heavy Bombardment wasn’t necessarily the end of the world for ancient microbes, scientists say.
(May 20, 2009)
|
|
Monkeys found to wonder what might have been
Recordings of brain cells show that monkeys take note of missed opportunities and learn from their mistakes, scientists say.
(May 15, 2009)
|
|
“Missing link” ancestor reported found
A 47-million-year-old fossil connects humans, apes and monkeys to other mammals, researchers announced.
(May 19, 2009)
|
|
Race is on to preserve “oldest submerged town”
An ancient site associated with a legendary Greek “age of heroes” may be about to give up its secrets.
(May 14, 2009)
|
|
Study links daydreaming to problem-solving
Our brains are much more active when we daydream than previously thought, a study has found.
(May 13, 2009)
|
|
Warriors don’t always get the girl
Violence isn’t the ticket to having more wives and children among all tribal peoples, scientists say.
(May 12 , 2009)
|
|
Acupuncture found to beat “usual” care for back pain
A study is reviving questions for some about how the traditional Chinese treatment might really work.
(May 11, 2009)
|
|
Expedition to bursting, undersea volcano yields marvels
The mountain supports unique creatures thriving despite constant eruptions, scientists say.
(May 5, 2009)
|
|
Memories stolen by Alzheimer’s may be retrievable: study
Scientists have found a gene said to have enabled mice with an Alzheimer’s disease-like condition to recover lost memories.
(May 7, 2009)
|
|
Tiny “invisibility cloak” is like a magic carpet
Researchers have created a “carpet cloak” that conceals objects under it from detection using light near the human-visible part of the spectrum.
(May 4, 2009)
|
|
Parrots have got rhythm, studies find
New research may help shed light on the evolutionary puzzle of music.
(April 30, 2009)
|
|
“Rogue” black holes out there, but fear not: astronomers
It sounds like a sci-fi movie plot: rogue black holes roaming our galaxy, threatening to swallow anything that gets too close.
(April 29, 2009)
|
|
A seat of wisdom in the brain?
Two scientists have compiled what they say is the first scholarly review of the basis in the brain of wisdom.
(April 24, 2009)
|
|
Detection of “furthest object” could pave way for probing early cosmos
An explosion detected last Thursday marks the most distant, longest-ago event and object known, astronomers say.
(April 28, 2009)
|
|
A warm TV may drive away feelings of loneliness, rejection
For those feeling unloved, illusionary relationships with TV characters sometimes help fill the gap, researchers say.
(April 23, 2009)
|
|
Study: personalized drugs may lengthen cancer survival
Researchers used a company’s “genetic profiles” of individual patients to create custom treatments.
(April 20, 2009)
|
|
“Complex” organic molecules detected in space
Computer models also suggest larger molecules may be out there, including amino acids, essential for life as we know it.
(April 22, 2009)
|
|
Keeping slim is good for the planet, say scientists
A study finds that maintaining a healthy body weight is good news for the environment.
(April 20, 2009)
|
|
Physicists see the cosmos in a coffee cup
A professor and a graduate student say they have found a new “universal principle.”
(April 16, 2009)
|
|
Digital media may under-stimulate moral senses
It’s snappy and convenient—but the digital media prevalent in our time may move too fast to evoke our moral feelings, a study suggests.
(April 13, 2009)
|
|
Bright feathers found to get color from foamy structure
Some of nature’s brightest colors come from tiny structures with a structure similar to beer foam or a sponge, according to researchers.
(April 11, 2009)
|
|
Researchers wanted: humans need not apply?
Scientists are creating automated systems that can generate new hypotheses and approaches to research.
(April 7, 2009)
|
|
Aerosols may drive much Arctic warming, scientists find
New NASA research suggests around half the atmospheric warming measured in the Arctic is due to particles called aerosols.
(April 9, 2009)
|
|
Straw bale house survives quake test
An earthquake simulation with a force reported as 82 tons couldn’t take down a straw home designed by civil engineer Darcey Donovan.
(April 6, 2009)
|
|
Bird can “read” our gaze
A bird whose eyes look rather like human eyes pays good attention to where our glances fall, researchers say.
(April 2, 2009)
|
|
It's
not just chemical-it's the same chemicals, study suggests
Much the same cocktail of substances may flow in both men and women as
a result of their mutual attraction. (April 1, 2009)
|
|
Vindictiveness doesn’t pay, study suggests
A study of Germans found that people inclined to deal with inequity on a tit-for-tat basis tend to suffer higher unemployment.
(March 30, 2009)
|
|
Crabs suffer, remember pain, study finds
Research is calling into question the view that when small animals recoil from unpleasantness, it’s only a reflex.
(March 27, 2009)
|
|
Astronomers catch a “shooting star”
Asteroid 2008 TC3 has a humdrum name but an unusual distinction. (March 25, 2009)
|
|
Language of music may really be universal
Africans who have never listened to radio can pick up on emotions in Western music, according to a new report.
(March 20, 2009)
|
|
Brain cell type found to differ between man and mouse
An often overlooked cell embodies one of the very few basic differences that set apart the human brain, scientists propose.
(March 24, 2009)
|
|
Multiple
out-of-Africa migrations seen for early humans
Fossils suggest early, anatomically "modern"
humans split into many isolated groups before leaving
Africa, scientists say. (March 23, 2009)
|
|
Brain lives at “edge of chaos”
Scientists are offering new evidence that our brains function at a critical point between randomness and order.
(March 18, 2009)
|
|
Tiny space engine to push back against sunshine
Researchers are preparing to test what they call the smallest, most precisely controllable engine built for space.
(March 18, 2009)
|
|
Gruesome group death of young dinos analyzed
A muddy lakeside some 90 million years ago drew a herd of young, birdlike dinosaurs to a terrifying end, say paleontologists.
(March 16, 2009)
|
|
“Mind-reading” experiment highlights how brain records memories
New research adds to mounting evidence that it’s possible to “read” memories by looking at brain activity.
(March 13, 2009)
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Technology
predicted to slash battery recharge time, weight
Engineers say they've found a way to move energy
faster through a well-known battery material. (March 11, 2009)
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Rock-hurling zoo chimp stocked ammo in advance: study
Researchers have found what they say is some of the first clear evidence that a non-human animal can spontaneously plan ahead.
(March 10, 2009)
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Faith found to reduce errors on psychological test
Distinct brain activity patterns in believers may dovetail with performance differences, scientists said.
(March 6, 2009)
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Warning: warning labels may enhance lure of raunchy video games
A study claims to have confirmed what many suspected. (March 5, 2009)
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Martian mountain may answer big question
One Martian volcano is about three times Mount Everest’s height. But it’s the small details that two geologists are looking at.
(March 5, 2009)
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Odd, bouncing, lollipop-faced fish dubbed new species
“Psychedelica” seemed the perfect moniker, to a scientist who named this creature.
(March 3, 2009)
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Doodling gets its due: tiny artworks may aid memory
Drawing while listening doesn’t necessarily imply a wandering mind, a study suggests.
(March 2, 2009)
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From oral to moral? Dirty deeds may prompt “bad taste” reaction
Moral disgust may be an outgrowth of older forms of revulsion, psychologists propose.
(Feb. 27, 2009)
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Missing asteroids explained?
Scientists have reported a case of missing asteroids—and a possible explanation.
(Feb. 26, 2009)
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People walked like us 1.5 million years ago, study finds
Newfound footprints are the oldest evidence of humans walking on anatomically modern feet, scientists report.
(Feb. 27, 2009)
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Black hole “baldness” reflected in ordinary objects: physicist
A mysterious number remains fixed during a small object’s wild orbit about a spinning black hole, theorists say.
(Feb. 24, 2009)
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“Green Comet” visits neighborhood
Astronomers are keeping a close eye on a greenish comet fast approaching Earth’s vicinity.
(Feb. 21, 2009)
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Richest biological zones found to suffer most wars
More than four in five wars in recent times arose in areas identified as the most biologically diverse, a study indicates.
(Feb. 21, 2009)
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Collective rituals spur support for suicide attacks: researchers
A new study proposes that acts of war by self-destruction are part of a larger psychological phenomenon.
(Feb. 19, 2009)
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Running hamsters, tapping fingers tapped for energy
A rodent may be doing its own small part to provide a renewable electricity source.
(Feb. 17, 2009)
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Cosmologists aim to reveal time’s first moments
Researchers want to test whether random, microscopic fluctuations in the fabric of space and time spawned the universe.
(Feb. 16, 2009)
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HIV
gene therapy trial results seen as positive
A new treatment appeared to safely boost the number of immune system
cells normally attacked by HIV, according to researchers. (Feb.
15, 2009)
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Researchers cracking code of the common cold
Scientists say they have put together the pieces of the genetic codes for all known strains of the virus behind the sniffles.
(Feb. 12, 2009)
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In early humans, “jaws of steel”
Nut-cracking abilities in our distant ancestors let them adapt to changing circumstances, a study suggests.
(Feb. 11, 2009)
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“Longevity gene” may boost lifespan
A variation in a gene called FOXO3A seems to increase human life expectancy in populations worldwide, scientists report.
(Feb. 10, 2009)
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Wolf in dog’s clothing? Study points to twist in fur color
Although dogs descend from wolves, dogs may have passed a helpful genetic mutation back to some wolves.
(Feb. 6, 2009)
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Evidence mounts for hill as “birthplace” of Zeus: scholars
A legend linking the king of Greek gods to Mt. Lykaion in Greece may have some merit, archaeologists report.
(Feb. 9, 2009)
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Stem cell recipe gets even simpler
One chemical can convert cells from adult mice into the powerful embryonic-like stem cells needed in medicine, biologists report.
(Feb. 5, 2009)
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Like Earth, if you overlook the lava everywhere?
A European satellite has revealed a planet only twice as large as Earth orbiting a distant star, astronomers say.
(Feb. 4 , 2009)
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Fossil snake said to break length record
A sixty-million-year-old South American snake might make today’s anacondas seem almost cuddly.
(Feb. 4, 2009)
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Insulin may help treat Alzheimer’s
Scientists are reporting that a substance commonly used to treat diabetes may also protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
(Feb. 2, 2009)
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Chemical found to trigger locust swarming
A common brain chemical in humans also sparks the Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation of desert locusts, scientists report.
(Jan. 30, 2009)
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When a stone lands in water
Physicists are clarifying how one of nature’s most beautiful spectacles unfolds: the dance of a watery surface hit by a falling stone.
(Jan. 29, 2009)
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Ill-fated ice man may have suffered two assaults
Scientists say they’ve revealed a new chapter in a murder case some 5,300 years old.
(Jan. 28, 2009)
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“Alarming” bone deterioration after long space flights
Months spent in space may raise astronauts’ risk for fractures later in life, a study suggests.
(Jan. 27, 2009)
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Mightier sperm in “cuckolded” species
Where infidelity prevails, sperm evolve to be faster and bigger to cope with the competition, researchers claim.
(Jan. 26, 2009)
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Schizophrenia reassessed as fixation on self
The mental illness may overactivate a brain system involved in self-reflection, scientists say.
(Jan. 23, 2009)
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Makings of a deadly brown cloud
Burning organic material for home use is largely responsible for a haze over south Asia, researchers report.
(Jan. 22, 2009)
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Micro-motors would fit to swim human arteries
Many complex surgeries for stroke, hardened arteries or blood vessel blockages are about to become safer, scientists say.
(Jan. 20, 2009)
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“Cannibalism” creates huge stars
Oddly bloated stars known as blue stragglers grow by feasting on companions, astronomers claim.
(Jan. 19, 2009)
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Evidence of ancient chemical warfare reported
A poison-gas assault on Roman soldiers may be the oldest archaeological evidence for chemical warfare, a researcher says.
(Jan. 16, 2009)
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How
"puppydog eyes" do their trick: chemistry
A so-called trust hormone may promote bonding between members of
different species, as well as within a species, researchers
say. (Jan. 13, 2009)
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Through DNA, breathing new life into museum pieces
From marsupials to manuscripts, researchers are dusting off old specimens to learn their secrets using genetics.
(Jan. 13, 2009)
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Enforcer of conformity: our own brains
Although a grammatically challenged advertisement exhorts us to “think different,” group opinion affects us powerfully.
(Jan. 14, 2009)
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Climate-induced food crisis seen by 2100
Barring drastic action, global warming could cripple agriculture in hotter areas, a study predicts.
(Jan. 10, 2009)
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Black holes came first, astronomers conclude
Scientists may have solved a cosmic chicken-and-egg problem. (Jan. 6, 2009)
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Old drug may slow aging, researchers say
A drug once used for intestinal trouble is called promising, but was also once linked to a disease outbreak in a murky episode.
(Jan. 7, 2009)
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Our galaxy no longer “little sister”
Fasten your seat belts: our galaxy spins faster, weighs more, and is more likely to collide than we thought, researchers claim.
(Jan. 6, 2009)
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Materials for “Earths” may be common in universe
New findings add to evidence that rocky planets are a normal occurrence, astronomers say.
(Jan. 6, 2009)
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Using light beams to grab molecules
Researchers say they’ve created a trap that can capture DNA molecules and other tiny objects.
(Jan. 1, 2009)
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