News

  1. Astronomy

    Stellar motions provide hole-y data

    Measuring for the first time the acceleration of stars near the dense core of our galaxy, astronomers have obtained more precise information on the location and density of the black hole that lurks there.

    By Ron Cowen
  2. Math

    Global contest nets encryption standard

    A data-scrambling scheme called Rijndael was selected to become the federal government's new formula for protecting sensitive, unclassified information.

    By Ivars Peterson
  3. Health & Medicine

    Some psychoactive drugs ease harsh PMS

    Drugs such as widely prescribed Prozac can relieve a severe form of premenstrual syndrome.

    By Nathan Seppa
  4. Earth

    Two microbes team up to munch methane

    Aggregates of two different microorganisms in methane-bearing ocean sediments collected off the Oregon coast appear to collaborate to consume methane despite a lack of oxygen.