News
- Animals
Secret Signal: Fish allurement that predators don’t see
In a rare demonstration of secret messaging in animals, a swordtail fish uses ultraviolet courtship signals that are invisible to a predator.
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By a Nose? Human sperm may sniff out the path to an egg
A man's sperm appear to possess a primitive kind of nose that enables them to navigate to a woman's egg by scent.
- Animals
At last, a bird that nails killer chicks
For the first time, researchers have found a bird species—Australia's superb fairy-wren—that reacts when all its own chicks disappear and a giant imposter takes their place.
- Earth
Dust up north
Strong northeasterly winds blowing across coastal regions of southern Alaska recently exposed by melting snow launched massive clouds of dust over the Gulf of Alaska.
- Astronomy
By the light of a starry eruption
Astronomers calculating the brightness of a supernova explosion witnessed in the 11th century estimate that it was likely the most brilliant stellar event in recorded history.
- Health & Medicine
Protein protects rat brains from strokes
Neuroglobin, a protein related to hemoglobin, may protect the brain during strokes.
- Earth
Composted sewage captures dirt’s lead
Lead-contaminated soil in urban parks, gardens, and schoolyards could be made safer by adding composted organic waste.
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Uncertainty fires up some neurons
In monkeys, a small set of brain cells that transmit the chemical messenger dopamine to various neural destinations works as an uncertainty meter.
- Math
Prime Finding: Mathematicians mind the gap
Mathematicians have taken a significant step toward proving the twin-prime conjecture by simplifying formulas for estimating the average spacing of primes.
- Astronomy
Honors for Science News astronomy writer
Science News astronomy writer Ron Cowen is a recipient of the third David N. Schramm award for distinguished writing on high-energy astrophysics.
- Animals
Techno Crow: Do birds build up better tool designs?
Researchers surveying tool use by New Caledonian crows propose that the birds may be the first animals besides people shown to ratchet up the sophistication of their technology by sharing design improvements.
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A Tale of the Tapeworm: Parasite ploy suggests drug-delivery tactic
A chemical used by tapeworms to slow intestinal pulsations may help people absorb drugs more efficiently.
