More Stories from the September 8, 2001 issue
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Geneticists define new elephant species
A new study of the genetics of African elephants shows that forest dwellers differ so much from those roaming the savannas that the two may be separate species.
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Seabird makes citrusy bug repellant
Auklet feathers carry a cocktail of citrus-smelling chemicals, including compounds that squashbugs secrete to repel predators.
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Audiovisual aids may lessen dyslexia
A short training course in matching sound sequences with visual patterns shows promise as a way to boost reading skills in children with dyslexia.
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A tip of the tongue to the brain
Researchers have identified several brain areas that together underlie the experience of feeling certain that a piece of forgotten information is nonetheless on the tip of one's tongue.
- Earth
Aircraft spies on health of coral reefs
Marine ecologists report the development of a new remote-sensing system that can assess the health of coral reefs from planes.
- Astronomy
Galaxy’s Black Hole: X Rays Mark Spot
An X-ray outburst from the center of our galaxy is providing compelling new evidence that a monster black hole lurks at the Milky Way's core.
- Chemistry
Feline stimulant fends off mosquitoes
Preliminary results suggest that catnip may be more effective at repelling mosquitoes than the widely used chemical DEET.
- Health & Medicine
Arteries may be vulnerable to HIV attack
HIV may directly interact with cells in arteries, predisposing people to heart attacks.
- Animals
Even deep down, the right whales don’t sink
A right whale may weigh some 70 tons, but unlike other marine mammals studied so far, it tends to float rather than sink at great depths.
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Glutamate paths surface in schizophrenia
Three new studies indicate that altered transmission of glutamate, a key brain chemical, plays an influential role in the severe mental disorder known as schizophrenia.
- Earth
Antarctic sediments muddy climate debate
Ocean-floor sediments drilled from Antarctic regions recently covered by ice shelves suggest that those shelves were much younger than scientists had previously thought.
- Health & Medicine
Gene implicated in deadly influenza
A strain of influenza virus that struck in Hong Kong in 1997 got some of its lethality from a mutation in the gene encoding an enzyme called PB2.
- Health & Medicine
Walking and eating for better health
A low-fat diet and regular exercise can ward off diabetes in people at high risk of developing the disease.
- Health & Medicine
Study challenges surgery for lung disease
Patients with the most severe emphysema shouldn't undergo major surgery that removes part of their damaged lungs.
- Chemistry
Tiny spheres may deliver oral insulin
Researchers have developed microscopic spheres that can sneak insulin past the stomach so it can be absorbed in the small intestine.
- Chemistry
Argon keeps chips and lettuce crisp
A new technique replaces the air in food packages with argon instead of widely used nitrogen, improving taste and shelf life.
- Chemistry
Novel material fights against cavities
A new material that dentists might eventually put under fillings and braces secretes calcium and phosphate ions to rebuild teeth as cavities form.
- Health & Medicine
Immunity’s Eyes
Proteins called toll-like receptors allow human immune cells to detect microbes.
- Chemistry
Faster, Better, Cleaner?
Chemists have found that a new class of compounds, called ionic liquids, can substitute for widely used, messy organic solvents while also performing better and producing new products of interest to industry.
