News
- Astronomy
This extreme star might have huge tidal waves
Gravitational forces between two orbiting stars might be creating huge waves of plasma on one of the stars that break and crash to the surface.
- Health & Medicine
What should we expect from the coronavirus this fall?
The virus may be reaching a phase of baseline circulation, says epidemiologist Aubree Gordon. But it’s unclear what will happen in the next few months.
- Space
Recoiling black holes could move at nearly one-tenth the speed of light
Knowing black holes’ speed after being kicked by gravitational waves can reveal how much energy converging black holes can release.
- Life
Around 13,000 years ago, humans and fire changed LA’s ecosystem forever
Rapid drying combined with human-made fires changed Southern California forever, killing off ancient bison, dire wolves and five other megafauna species there.
- Genetics
A new look at Ötzi the Iceman’s DNA reveals new ancestry and other surprises
Ötzi had genetic variants for male-pattern baldness and dark skin, and he also had an unusual amount of early farmer ancestry, a new DNA analysis finds.
- Chemistry
Magnetic ‘rusty’ nanoparticles pull estrogen out of water
Iron oxide particles adorned with “sticky” molecules trap estrogen in water, possibly limiting the hormone’s harmful effects on aquatic life.
- Physics
How to run a marathon in under two hours
Running between other people reduces air resistance. A new study identifies optimal positioning of such drafting formations. Watch out, marathon records.
- Neuroscience
Neuroscientists decoded a Pink Floyd song using people’s brain activity
The technique could be used to improve devices that allow communication from people unable to speak.
- Animals
Macaques in Puerto Rico learned to share shade after Hurricane Maria
Animals that spent more time together on hot afternoons were less likely to die during the years following the storm, a new study finds.
- Health & Medicine
Why are more people under 50 getting colorectal cancer? Scientists have some clues
Science News spoke with doctors about their research into early-onset colorectal cancer. Here’s what they’re learning and what questions remain.
- Life
Many frogs glow in blue light, and it may be a secret, eerie language
Biofluorescence is far more common across frog species than previously thought. The faint twilight glow could have a role in communication or mating.
- Particle Physics
There’s a new measurement of muon magnetism. What it means isn’t clear
The measurement, from the Muon g−2 experiment, is the most precise yet. But recent theoretical predictions are a bit muddled.
