News
- Humans
Teeth chronicle infant diet
Chemical analyses of teeth, including fossilized ones, may provide clues that tell anthropologists the age at which a child was weaned.
By Sid Perkins - Physics
Gödel, Escher, Chopin
Musical theorists see inuitive links between musical chords and geometries.
- Life
Not so different after all
Plague bacteria may be deadlier than its harmless cousin because of a few small genetic changes.
By Tia Ghose - Life
The Arctic isn’t alone
Insects and other animals that regulate their body temperature externally may be especially vulnerable as the world warms.
- Life
DNA tweak no good for diabetics
A genetic variation that increases levels of a blood-building protein also ups the risk of developing complications from diabetes.
- Health & Medicine
Potential for protection
A study of U.S. veterans suggests that the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen could have a protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease. But researchers say more work is needed.
By Nathan Seppa - Astronomy
Honing the Hubble
Astronomers are sharpening measurements of a familiar cosmic parameter to shed new light on dark energy, the mysterious entity that’s accelerating the universe’s rate of expansion.
By Ron Cowen -
A moment on the lips …
Adults may be stuck with the fat they have. A study suggests the number of fat cells doesn't change with weight gain or loss.
- Life
Coral keeps it in the family
The nutrients released during mass coral spawning feed the whole ecosystem.
By Tia Ghose -
Trouble with truffles
A Chinese truffle species has invaded Italy, raising fears that the newcomer could overgrow the Italian black truffle on its home territory.
By Susan Milius -
- Earth
Challenging ethanol’s dirty reputation
An inexpensive way to make ethanol from wood chips reduces net greenhouse gas emissions as much as more costly methods.