Feature

  1. Tech

    Virtual Worlds, Real Science

    Epidemiologists and social scientists are tapping into virtual online worlds inhabited by millions to collect data with real-world uses.

    By Brian Vastag

  2. Stem Cells from Virgin Eggs

    Making embryonic stem cells from unfertilized eggs might bypass many ethical concerns, but important scientific hurdles remain.

    By Patrick Barry

  3. Not Just Hitchhikers

    Salmonella and other human pathogens on vegetables aren't just riding along like casual smears of dirt; they're moving in and setting up housekeeping.

    By Susan Milius
  4. Earth

    Invasive, Indeed

    Some people may live lightly on the land, but the demands of the world's population as a whole consume nearly a quarter of Earth's total biological productivity.

    By Sid Perkins
  5. Tech

    Disappearing Ink

    Coming to your tattoo parlor soon: New inks that allow clients to have their designs cleanly erased if embarrassment or regret sets in.

    By Corinna Wu
  6. Plants

    Stalking the Green Meat Eaters

    Pitcher plants in a New England bog hold little ecosystems in their leaves, and also act as indicators of the bog's ecological health.

    By Susan Milius
  7. Astronomy

    Sputnik + 50

    The launch of Sputnik 1, 50 years ago, ushered in a scientific and technological revolution, but dreams of the human conquest of space have faded.

    By Ron Cowen
  8. Earth

    Clearly Concerning

    The toxicity of a chemical that leaches from a widely used plastic receives conflicting evaluations in two new reviews.

    By Janet Raloff
  9. Physics

    Electron Superhighway

    The remarkable strength and electrical properties of graphene, a chicken-wire network of carbon atoms, make it a promising new material for computer chips.

    By Davide Castelvecchi
  10. Health & Medicine

    The Breast Solution

    Reversing earlier advice, health authorities now say that babies of HIV-positive mothers in poor countries have a better chance of avoiding infection if they feed only on breast milk that's not supplemented with other food.

    By Carolyn Barry
  11. Health & Medicine

    Warming to a Cold War Herb

    Benefiting from decades of research that took place behind the Iron Curtain, Western physicians are discovering Rhodiola rosea, a cold-weather herb that purportedly fights fatigue and boosts energy.

    By Brian Vastag
  12. Health & Medicine

    Curry Power

    A component of the spice turmeric, the color-giving ingredient in yellow curries, may help prevent and possibly treat Alzheimer's disease.

    By Patrick Barry