News
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Degrading a Defense: Bacteria use enzyme to escape trap
Some bacteria have evolved an enzyme that enables them to escape the body's defenses.
- Health & Medicine
Saw palmetto flunks prostate exam
An herbal supplement used by 2.5 million men in the United States has failed to outperform a dummy capsule taken for urinary problems.
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Smart shoppers use unconscious tactics
Consumers make better decisions about major purchases if they heed the power of their unconscious minds.
- Astronomy
Tiny planet orbits faraway star
Taking advantage of some gravitational sleight of hand, astronomers have found indirect evidence of the smallest planet known to exist outside the solar system.
- Earth
Species-aid budget looks fishy
State and federal governments spent $1.4 billion in 2004 on conserving endangered and threatened species, with one-third of that sum going to protect fish.
- Health & Medicine
Study upgrades protons’ risk to DNA
Proton radiation causes worse breaks in DNA than researchers had expected.
- Chemistry
Membrane purifies gas
Researchers have synthesized a membrane that may purify hydrogen more efficiently than conventional chemical methods do.
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Transplant reroutes cells from sperm to eggs
Fish cells destined to become sperm can become eggs when transplanted into larvae.
- Earth
Finding dirty diesels
Just a few diesel-fueled vehicles account for much of traffic-related soot.
- Tech
New View: Speedy microscope takes fuller look at the nanoworld
Action movies of molecules and a better feel for microscopic surfaces could flow from a radically revised version of the atomic-force microscope.
- Health & Medicine
Looking Ahead: Tests might predict Alzheimer’s risk
Two tests show promise in detecting Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive impairment years before symptoms arise.
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Model for Madness: Engineered mice have schizophrenia-like symptoms
Scientists have genetically altered mice so that they mimic the deficits in short-term memory and attention of schizophrenic patients.
