News
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ChemistryFlerovium and livermorium debut on periodic table
New element names honor the contributions of Russian and American laboratories.
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HumansStone Age art gets animated
Cave paintings and decorated disks provided moving experiences in ancient Europe.
By Bruce Bower -
PhysicsQuantum teleportation leaps forward
Two teams report beaming information about particles over long distances, a step toward creating satellite quantum communication networks.
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AstronomyMilky Way will be hit head-on
The Andromeda galaxy is destined to slam directly into ours, new observations from the Hubble Space Telescope show.
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GeneticsPoppies make more than opium
A 10-gene cluster controls the flowers’ production of a valuable cough suppressant and antitumor compound.
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LifeTreatment helps paralyzed rats walk
A combination of drugs, electrical stimulation and therapy can restore lost connections between lower limbs and brain.
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LifeBlue-green algae release chemical suspected in some amphibian deformities
Retinoic acid levels high in waterways rich in cyanobacteria blooms.
By Susan Milius -
EarthSupervolcanoes evolve superquickly
Huge underground chambers of magma appear and erupt within just several centuries, a study of California rocks suggests.
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ChemistryYoungsters can sniff out old people’s scent
Body odor changes detectably with age, becoming mellower in men and not at all offensive in either sex — even to young people.
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Health & MedicineFever in pregnancy linked to autism
Pregnant women who run a high temperature that goes untreated may double their risk of having an autistic child, a study finds.
By Nathan Seppa -
SpaceAn interview with alien hunter Jill Tarter
The director of Center for SETI Research is retiring to focus on finding funds to continue the hunt for extraterrestrial life.
By Nadia Drake -
HumansClimate skepticism not rooted in science illiteracy
Cultural values are more important than science knowledge in shaping a person’s views on global warming.
By Janet Raloff