Skip to content

Subscribe today

Every print subscription comes with full digital access

All Topics
- Health
- Humans
- Life
- Earth
- Physics
- Space

Magazine
Menu
About
For Students
Our Store

Donate

Science News

INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM SINCE 1921 SIGN IN

Search

Science News

INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM SINCE 1921

All Topics
- Earth
- Humans
- Life
  - Animals
  - Plants
  - Ecosystems
  - Paleontology
  - Neuroscience
  - Genetics
  - Microbes
- Physics
- Space
- Tech
  - Computing
  - Artificial Intelligence
- Chemistry
- Math
- Science & Society
Health
Humans
- Humans
- Recent posts in Humans
  - Health & Medicine
    Scientists identify a long-sought by-product of some drinking water treatments
    
    By Sid Perkins18 hours ago
  - Health & Medicine
    Vaccines, fluoride, raw milk: How RFK Jr.’s views may shape public health
    
    By Aimee CunninghamNovember 19, 2024
  - Health & Medicine
    Youth tobacco use has gone down, but the work isn’t over
    
    By Aimee CunninghamNovember 19, 2024
Life
- Life
  - Animals
  - Plants
  - Ecosystems
  - Paleontology
  - Neuroscience
  - Genetics
  - Microbes
- Recent posts in Life
  - Animals
    For adult chimps, playing may be more important than previously thought
    
    By Gennaro Tomma21 hours ago
  - Life
    Nature’s first fiber optics could light the way to internet innovation
    
    By Elie DolginNovember 19, 2024
  - Neuroscience
    Some people don’t have a mind’s eye. Scientists want to know why
    
    By Laura SandersNovember 18, 2024
Earth
- Earth
- Recent posts in Earth
  - Climate
    Climate change has amped up hurricane wind speeds by 29 kph on average
    
    By Nikk OgasaNovember 20, 2024
  - Oceans
    The world’s largest coral was discovered in the South Pacific
    
    By Nikk OgasaNovember 15, 2024
  - Health & Medicine
    22 pesticides show links to prostate cancer
    
    By Andrea TamayoNovember 14, 2024
Physics
- Physics
- Recent posts in Physics
  - Cosmology
    Einstein’s gravity endures despite a dark energy puzzle
    
    By Emily ConoverNovember 19, 2024
  - Particle Physics
    Accelerated muons bring next-gen particle colliders closer to reality
    
    By Emily ConoverNovember 12, 2024
  - Particle Physics
    Antimatter could travel by truck, a test with protons shows
    
    By Emily ConoverNovember 8, 2024
Space
- Space
- Recent posts in Space
  - Astronomy
    This is the first close-up image of a star beyond our galaxy
    
    By Sophie Hartley24 hours ago
  - Planetary Science
    Mars’ potato-shaped moons could be the remains of a shredded asteroid
    
    By Lisa GrossmanNovember 20, 2024
  - Cosmology
    Einstein’s gravity endures despite a dark energy puzzle
    
    By Emily ConoverNovember 19, 2024

Feature

Melatonin: A Puberty Switch

Share this:

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Pocket
Reddit
Print

By Science News

Magazine Issue: Vol. 116 No. #22, December 1, 1979

Having trouble viewing this? Open in a new window

Questions or comments on this article? E-mail us at feedback@sciencenews.org | Reprints FAQ

A version of this article appears in the December 1, 1979 issue of Science News.

We are at a critical time and supporting climate journalism is more important than ever. Science News and our parent organization, the Society for Science, need your help to strengthen environmental literacy and ensure that our response to climate change is informed by science.

Please subscribe to Science News and add $16 to expand science literacy and understanding.

Related Stories

Health & Medicine
Scientists identify a long-sought by-product of some drinking water treatments

By Sid Perkins18 hours ago
Animals
For adult chimps, playing may be more important than previously thought

By Gennaro Tomma21 hours ago
Astronomy
This is the first close-up image of a star beyond our galaxy

By Sophie Hartley24 hours ago

Science News

Science News was founded in 1921 as an independent, nonprofit source of accurate information on the latest news of science, medicine and technology. Today, our mission remains the same: to empower people to evaluate the news and the world around them. It is published by the Society for Science, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education (EIN 53-0196483).

Science News Explores
Science News Learning

Subscriber Services

Subscribe
Renew
Give a Gift Subscription
Customer Service

Follow Science News on Facebook
Follow Science News on X
Follow Science News via RSS
Follow Science News on Instagram
Follow Science News on YouTube
Follow Science News on TikTok

More Information

FAQ
Newsletters
Rights & Permissions
Advertise
Contact

Society for Science

About the Society
Society Store
Donate
Careers

© Society for Science & the Public 2000–2024. All rights reserved.

1719 N Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.785.2255

Terms of Service Privacy Policy

Log in

Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.

Not a subscriber?
Become one now.

Client key* E-mail Address*