News
-
Smoking out microbes
The addictive compound nicotine kills bacteria, which may explain why smokers get lung disease.
-
Some like it hotter
A microbe found on the ocean floor can grow at 121°C, a new record for the upper temperature limit for life.
-
Chopping up a microbial tail
An enzyme made by immune cells destroys the proteins that make up bacterial tails.
- Earth
Whale meat in Japan is loaded with mercury
Some people in Japan who eat dolphins and other toothed whales are ingesting amounts of mercury that exceed legal health limits.
- Astronomy
Finding a nearby star
Astronomers have discovered a star that may be among the very closest known to us.
- Ecosystems
Zebra mussels to the rescue
Bioengineers have harnessed zebra mussels to help avert algal blooms by cleaning particles, including algae, from the water.
-
Findings puncture self-esteem claims
People who report high levels of self-esteem experience few of the beneficial effects often assumed to flow from this attitude.
- Astronomy
Satellite begins its ultraviolet survey
NASA last month released the first images taken by the recently launched Galaxy Evolution Explorer satellite.
- Health & Medicine
Heart drug derails algal toxin
A drug for treating high cholesterol might someday find use relieving the debilitating symptoms of poisoning from some algal toxins.
- Humans
Fellowships awarded to Science News writers
Two Science News writers recently received prestigious fellowships.
-
Eggs and more grown from mouse stem cells
Stem cells from mouse embryos can be converted into eggs, skin, or heart muscle.
- Earth
Vermiculite turns toxic
Federal agencies issued a warning that much of the vermiculite ceiling insulation installed a decade or more ago may be tainted with cancer-causing asbestos.
