Feature

Earth

Thin Skin

Desert pavement, a delicate veneer of stones that covers the surface of up to 50 percent of the world's arid lands, is susceptible to being damaged by everything from multi-ton tanks to careless footsteps, and the resulting scars can take thousands of years to mend on their own.

Planetary Science

Next Stop, Interstellar Space

Data recorded by the venerable Voyager 1 spacecraft suggest the craft has either recently encountered or will soon enter a key region near the edge of the solar system.

Humans

Science News Challenge

Try the Science News current-events crossword puzzle.

Humans

Science News Challenge

Try the Science News current-events crossword puzzle.

Humans

Science News of the Year 2003

A review of important scientific achievements reported in Science News during the year 2003.

Science & Society

Science News of the Year 2003

A review of important scientific achievements reported in Science News during the year 2003.

Humans

Undignified Science

Research advances in 2003 heralded a string of unexpected scientific indignities that will occur in the future, at least in the fevered imagination of one writer.

Humans

Undignified Science

Research advances in 2003 heralded a string of unexpected scientific indignities that will occur in the future, at least in the fevered imagination of one writer.

Math

Bookish Math

Statistical tests and computation can help solve literary mysteries surrounding the authorship of well-known works.

Math

Bookish Math

Statistical tests and computation can help solve literary mysteries surrounding the authorship of well-known works.

Plants

Warm-Blooded Plants?

Research heats up on why some flowers have the chemistry to keep themselves warm.

Health & Medicine

Ketones to the Rescue

Medical researchers are investigating a slew of possible applications for acids called ketones, which the body produces naturally when deprived of carbohydrates and protein.