News
- Health & Medicine
The not-so-dispensable spleen
Spleen plays more roles than previously known.
By Nathan Seppa - Life
Bent innards give orchid its kick
Violent pollen delivery in Catasetum flowers gets its power from temporarily deformed inner strip
By Susan Milius - Ecosystems
Churning the numbers
Some of the ocean’s small swimmers may be having a big impact on ocean mixing.
- Health & Medicine
Creating fat that burns calories
Researchers find a way to make energy-using brown fat from skin cells.
- Health & Medicine
Throat cancer from HPV proves treatable
Cancer of the throat caused by the human papillomavirus isn’t as deadly as such cancer that arises from other causes.
By Nathan Seppa - Space
Galaxies going green
An unusual group of green, pea-shaped galaxies may be nearby analogs of remote galaxies undergoing a high rate of star formation.
By Ron Cowen - Earth
Comet likely culprit in Tunguska blast
Analysis of shuttle plume movement suggests Tunguska event could have caused clouds over London.
By Sid Perkins - Chemistry
Brilliant blue for the spine
A study in rats suggests the blue dye similar to that found in popsicles and sports drinks may prevent cell death after spinal cord injury.
- Life
Allergy meds slim down obese mice
Animal study shows over-the-counter medications lower weight and treat type 2 diabetes. The study is one of four to link type 2 diabetes with the immune system.
- Chemistry
CO2 sponge
Macromolecule that was accidentally discovered seems to trap carbon dioxide from the air.
By Sid Perkins - Space
Rotation may solve cosmic mystery
Astronomers propose a new explanation for the formation of the darkest galaxies in the universe.
By Ron Cowen - Earth
Salty water power
A study reports a new, cheaper way to harvest energy from salt water and fresh water.