News
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ChemistryEverything Midas touched turned to rot
Researchers have found the nutrient sources for fungi that caused the decay of much of King Midas' tomb and its contents.
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Native signers may get right-brain aid
Controversial brain-imaging data suggest that the right side of the brain contributes to the grammatical skills of people who grow up using sign language.
By Bruce Bower -
Neural peek at anxious, depressed kids
A brain structure called the amygdala may play an influential role in severe cases of childhood anxiety and depression.
By Bruce Bower -
Foster infants retain security option
As late as age 18 months, foster infants quickly develop a secure relationship with a nurturing foster mother.
By Bruce Bower -
MathSearchers capture a champion megaprime
A participant in the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search set the record for the largest known prime number, which runs to 4,053,946 decimal digits.
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TechFly lends an ear to microphone design
The unique way some flies localize sound has inspired engineers to design tiny directional microphones for hearing aids and surveillance devices.
By Peter Weiss -
Health & MedicineSurprise! Fat proves a taste sensation
The share of consumed fat that travels into a person's bloodstream depends on whether the person tasted fat to begin with.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & MedicineDelayed surgery aids spinal cord repair
Postponing surgery to repair a severed spinal cord in rats improves the likelihood that the operation will counteract the injury.
By Nathan Seppa -
Materials ScienceSynthetic molecules mimic bone growth
Researchers have created molecules that assemble into a microscopic structure that mimics bone.
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AnimalsFemale ducks can double eggs by trickery
Female goldeneye ducks can double their offspring by sneaking eggs into other females' nests before settling down to a nest of their own.
By Susan Milius -
AstronomyX-ray craft sees Venus in whole new light
Astronomers have unveiled the first X-ray image of Venus.
By Ron Cowen -
AnthropologyHuman evolution put brakes on tooth growth
A new analysis of fossil teeth indicates that the slower pace of dental development observed in people today dates back only about 100,000 years.
By Bruce Bower