News
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Materials ScienceMaterial mimics mother-of-pearl in form and substance
A new synthetic material is so strong and tough that it might one day be used to construct artificial bones or even auto parts.
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AstronomyTelescope spies a galactic satellite
A huge gas cloud once considered a remnant from when the Milky Way or nearby galaxies formed is, in fact, a satellite of our galaxy.
By Ron Cowen -
TechMaking machines from genes
A novel machine made from DNA also uses DNA as its fuel.
By Peter Weiss -
TechCoddled crystal slams door on light
A better fabrication process yields such a high-quality optical material that microchips using light, rather than electrons, may be close to reality.
By Peter Weiss -
HumansRussia’s nuclear-safety issues spread
A leading Russian environmentalist, Aleksandr Nikitin, says Russia's problems with nuclear-waste management should concern people beyond that country's borders.
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HumansCutting edge chemistry rushes online
A new online server offers a place for communicating chemistry research to other scientists quickly and without peer review.
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Health & MedicineDo zinc lozenges shorten common colds?
People taking zinc to fight a cold report less coughing, less nasal discharge, and a shorter cold than do people getting a placebo.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineCoffee linked to rheumatoid arthritis
People who drink four or more cups of coffee per day appear more likely to get rheumatoid arthritis than are those drinking less.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineData faked in immune-system study
A researcher fabricated evidence suggesting that never-before-seen RNA-DNA-hybrid molecules play a role in creating antibodies.
By John Travis -
Health & MedicineSperm just say NO to egg cells
Sperm fertilizing an egg produce a whiff of nitric oxide.
By John Travis -
Health & MedicineMarrow converted into brain cells
Scientists can now efficiently transform bone marrow into nerve cells.
By John Travis -
EarthStudy gives new answer for muddy mystery
Geologists provide evidence that quartz silt in ancient seabeds doesn't come from eroded land rocks, but rather from the dissolved skeletons of tiny primitive creatures, possibly altering the fossil record and changing models of prehistoric climate and ocean geography.
By Ruth Bennett