News
- Tech
Electrifying Toxic Cleanup: Electrodes could stimulate removal of radioactive waste
Researchers have devised a bioremediation system that electrically stimulates bacteria to break down toxic chemicals in the environment.
- Astronomy
Rocky Road: Planet hunting gets closer to Earth
Astronomers have discovered the three lightest planets known outside the solar system, moving researchers closer to the goal of finding extrasolar planets that resemble Earth.
By Ron Cowen - Animals
Mom bears more sons when she gets extra bouquets
When researchers spiff up a male starling's courtship by delivering some extra bouquets to his mate on his behalf, the couple tends to produce more sons than usual.
By Susan Milius -
A call to arms aids recovery of sight
A man was able to recover some of the sight he lost as a result of brain damage simply by reaching out toward objects near his body, researchers say.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Pathogenic partners prompt pneumonia
A study of infants has shown that bacterial and viral pathogens may act together in causing pneumonia, a finding that could affect treatment options.
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Babies’ sound path to language skills
A test of early speech perception shows promise as a way to identify 6-month-olds headed for language difficulties as toddlers.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Mexican Americans face stroke risk
Middle-aged Mexican Americans face twice the stroke risk that non-Hispanic whites do.
By Nathan Seppa - Tech
Helping circuits get enough oxygen
The search for new insulators needed for making ever-smaller circuits may get a boost from a new electron microscopy technique sensitive to a single oxygen atom missing from a crystal layer.
By Peter Weiss - Health & Medicine
Vitamin E may curb colds in old folks
Vitamin E seems to help elderly people fend off colds.
By Nathan Seppa - Tech
Sound power for deep-space travel beyond sun’s reach
An unusually efficient new type of power unit for spacecraft uses sound to convert heat to electricity.
By Peter Weiss - Health & Medicine
Keeping Cells under Control: Enzyme suppression inhibits cancer spread
Shutting down an enzyme can slow the spread of cancer in mice.
By Nathan Seppa - Earth
There’s a Catch: Recreation takes toll on marine fish
Recreational fishing isn't just a tiny, harmless nibble on saltwater-fish populations.
By Susan Milius