News
- Humans
Despite lean times, Obama wants R&D hikes
The proposed federal budget would stall nonmandated spending overall, but science and tech would climb.
By Janet Raloff - Humans
Food exports can drain arid regions
Many dry regions ‘export’ large amounts of water in the form of agricultural products.
By Susan Milius - Psychology
Babies catch words early
Vocabulary learning starts when babies can barely babble.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Just two cells to make memories last
A pair of neurons in fly's brain is essential to long-term information storage and retrieval.
- Psychology
Vodka delivers shot of creativity
Alcohol intoxication raises men’s performance on a test of verbal ingenuity.
By Bruce Bower -
- Life
Cancer drug may have Alzheimer’s benefits
Medication helps the brain clear a plaque-forming protein associated with dementia.
- Health & Medicine
Tai chi helps Parkinson’s patients balance
The controlled movement of the Chinese martial art can improve patients' coordination and limit falls, a study finds.
By Nathan Seppa - Earth
BPA fosters diabetes-promoting changes
Exposures typical of the general public are enough to alter insulin secretion.
By Janet Raloff - Space
Proposed type of solar neutrino spotted
The existence of these long-sought particles confirms theories about the fusion reactions that power the sun.
- Humans
Numbers warn of looming collapses
Mathematical tools help researchers predict when systems are about to change dramatically.
- Animals
Classic sooty-moth tale bolstered by new results
A scientist’s six-year backyard experiment strengthens the scenario for evolutionary changes due to industrial pollution.
By Susan Milius