News
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Two-handed protein may protect DNA
An unusually shaped protein may help a bacterium thrive in tough times.
By John Travis - Health & Medicine
Celiac disease affects kids’ minds
Attention deficits and learning disabilities have joined the list of neurological problems associated with the intestinal disorder known as celiac disease.
By Ben Harder -
Neurons take charge to change messages
Neurons in a developing embryo respond to changes in their electrical activity by altering the types of chemical messengers that they produce.
By Bruce Bower - Planetary Science
Cometary encounter
Planetary scientists are feasting on close-up images of Comet Wild 2 as well as on the first information about its composition.
By Ron Cowen - Ecosystems
More on California’s rogue seaweed
Scientists have obtained genetic confirmation of the assumption that a newfound rogue alga in California waters is the same strain that has been smothering seafloor communities in the Mediterranean.
By Janet Raloff - Earth
Sprawl’s aquatic pollution
A new study links the traffic associated with urban sprawl to an unexpectedly large rain of air pollutants entering local waters.
By Janet Raloff -
Drug-resistance gene found—again
A mutant gene confers resistance to chloroquine upon parasites that cause malaria.
By John Travis -
Study casts doubt on minibacteria
Results from polymerase chain reaction experiments challenge the existence of ultratiny microbes called nanobacteria.
By John Travis - Planetary Science
NASA postpones plans for Mars samples
Still reeling from the failure of its two most recent missions to Mars, NASA announced late last month that it would delay by nearly a decade plans to bring back samples from the Red Planet.
By Ron Cowen - Planetary Science
When storms collide on Jupiter
Astronomers have for the first time witnessed two giant storms merging on Jupiter.
By Ron Cowen - Tech
Chair becomes personalized posture coach
Pressure imprints made by a person in a chair provide a new type of computer input useful for tracking posture or, perhaps, other clues to someone's activities and state of mind.
By Peter Weiss - Health & Medicine
Path to heart health is one with a peel
Consuming lots of oranges and other citrus fruits, or their juices, can trigger beneficial, cholesterol-moderating changes in the blood.
By Janet Raloff