News in Brief
- Archaeology
Stone Age fishing spear found on Southeast Asian island
Notched piece of bone found near Indonesia illustrates surprisingly complex tool making 35,000 years ago.
- Animals
Swimming dolphins don’t need to cheat
Dolphins swimming through bubbles burst old notion of underpowered muscles.
- Health & Medicine
‘Good bacterium’ prevents colic symptoms in newborns
Crying time was nearly halved in babies receiving the beneficial microbe.
- Health & Medicine
Green tea may sabotage blood pressure medication
Antioxidants in drink may keep intestinal cells from taking up drug.
- Animals
Wrinkle arises in soggy hand studies
An experiment bucks earlier finding that ridges help fingers grasp.
- Neuroscience
Caffeine may improve memory
Taking the stimulant after learning new information boosted people’s recall the next day.
- Astronomy
Earth-mass planet resembles a mini-Neptune
KOI-314c, an exoplanet 200 light-years away, is about 60 percent larger than Earth but made mostly of gas.
- Chemistry
Battery blueprint promises green energy storage
A device that relies on organic molecules could cheaply bank power from renewable sources.
- Life
Deadly influenza could strike aboriginal groups hardest
Native Alaskans and Australians tend to lack potent flu-fighting immune cells.
- Climate
Mangroves move up Florida’s coast
Satellite images reveal that the tropical trees are expanding north up Florida’s Atlantic coast, taking advantage of rising winter temperatures.
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- Environment
Protein fibers trap greenhouse gas
The method could scrub exhaust from cars and power plants.
