News
- Astronomy
Meteor shower promises quite a show
In the early morning hours of Nov. 18, sky watchers in North America may be treated to one of the most spectacular displays of shooting stars they're likely to see for a generation, if not longer.
By Ron Cowen - Health & Medicine
Human sweat packs a germ-killing punch
Sweat glands secrete a microbe-killing protein.
By John Travis - Chemistry
Chemists Try for Cleaner Papermaking
Chemists have developed a novel technology that could help clean up the papermaking process.
- Astronomy
After a martian dust storm
The largest dust storm seen on Mars in more than 2 decades is now beginning to wane.
By Ron Cowen - Astronomy
Tracking the path of a black hole
Astronomers have for the first time measured the motion of a small black hole and a companion star speeding through our galactic neighborhood.
By Ron Cowen - Health & Medicine
Anti-inflammatory drug may unleash TB
The anti-inflammatory drug infliximab, also called Remicade, can cause hidden tuberculosis to flare up.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Molecule may reveal ovarian cancer
The presence of a protein called prostasin may signal cancer of the ovaries.
By Nathan Seppa - Earth
Uranium recorded in high-altitude ice
An international team of scientists has analyzed a lengthy core of ice and snow drilled from atop Europe's tallest mountain to produce the first century-long record of uranium concentrations in a high-altitude environment.
By Sid Perkins - Earth
Grape-harvest dates hold climate clues
The vintner's habit of picking no grapes before their time may give scientists a tool that could help verify reconstructions of European climate for the past 500 years.
By Sid Perkins - Health & Medicine
Protein may be target for Crohn’s therapy
A protein called macrophage migration inhibitory factor, or MIF, may play a role in Crohn's disease, a painful gut ailment.
By Nathan Seppa - Tech
Exploding wires open sharp X-ray eye
Using exploding wires to make low-energy X-rays, a novel, high-resolution camera snaps X-ray pictures of millimeter-scale or larger objects—such as full insects—in which features only micrometers across show up throughout the image.
By Peter Weiss - Earth
Researchers confirm sea change in oceans
A new analysis of ancient seawater shows that the ocean's chemistry has fluctuated over the last half-billion years.