News
- Ecosystems
Brazil Nut Loss Looms: Harvest may be too heavy to last
A study of 23 spots in Amazonian forests has raised the question of whether the collection of Brazil nuts—praised as a model of gentle forest use—has reached such levels that it may not be sustainable.
By Susan Milius - Tech
Gel Bots? Vibrated goo mimics slithery motions
The ability of soft, jellylike hydrogels to move as do snails, snakes, and inchworms may point the way to a new class of squishy robots that promise to be simple, quiet, and versatile.
By Peter Weiss - Tech
Gel Bots? Vibrated goo mimics slithery motions
The ability of soft, jellylike hydrogels to move as do snails, snakes, and inchworms may point the way to a new class of squishy robots that promise to be simple, quiet, and versatile.
By Peter Weiss - Archaeology
Bones of Invention: German cave yields Stone Age figurines
Three ivory figurines found in southwestern Germany may belong to one of the world's oldest known art traditions, dating to more than 30,000 years ago.
By Bruce Bower - Archaeology
Bones of Invention: German cave yields Stone Age figurines
Three ivory figurines found in southwestern Germany may belong to one of the world's oldest known art traditions, dating to more than 30,000 years ago.
By Bruce Bower - Materials Science
Crystal Clear: Liquid crystal sensor plays nature’s game
By fixing the components of a cell membrane to a liquid crystal, researchers devised a sensitive and high-speed sensor for detecting chemical and biowarfare agents.
- Materials Science
Crystal Clear: Liquid crystal sensor plays nature’s game
By fixing the components of a cell membrane to a liquid crystal, researchers devised a sensitive and high-speed sensor for detecting chemical and biowarfare agents.
- Earth
Ash Clouds: Severe storms can lift smoke into stratosphere
New field observations, satellite images, and computer models suggest that a severe thunderstorm, enhanced by heat from forest fires, can boost soot, smoke, and other particles as far as the lower stratosphere, an unexpected phenomenon.
By Sid Perkins - Earth
Ash Clouds: Severe storms can lift smoke into stratosphere
New field observations, satellite images, and computer models suggest that a severe thunderstorm, enhanced by heat from forest fires, can boost soot, smoke, and other particles as far as the lower stratosphere, an unexpected phenomenon.
By Sid Perkins - Health & Medicine
Cardiac Connection: Lupus patients exhibit signs of heart disease
Lupus patients have more signs of atherosclerosis than do healthy people, suggesting that the inflammation that causes many lupus symptoms also damages blood vessels.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Cardiac Connection: Lupus patients exhibit signs of heart disease
Lupus patients have more signs of atherosclerosis than do healthy people, suggesting that the inflammation that causes many lupus symptoms also damages blood vessels.
By Nathan Seppa - Astronomy
Cool Cosmos: Orbiting telescope views infrared universe
Astronomers unveiled the first images and spectra taken by the most sensitive and highest-resolution infrared observatory ever sent into space.
By Ron Cowen