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Virtual Words by Jonathon Keats
Twenty-eight essays trace the births and lives (sometimes short) of blog, qubit and other science- and technology-inspired words. VIRTUAL WORDS BY JONATHON KEATS Oxford Univ., 2010, 177 p., $19.95.
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The Price of Altruism by Oren Harman
A biography of George Price follows the eccentric and reclusive scientist in his quest to explain altruism in a Darwinian world. THE PRICE OF ALTRUISM BY OREN HARMAN W.W. Norton & Co., 2010, 451 p., $27.95.
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A skeptic of quantum theory explains his misgivings
In a 1905 paper, Albert Einstein proposed that light could travel in the form of particles later called photons. It was one of the pioneering papers in the research that led to quantum mechanics, the mathematical framework for describing matter and energy on a fundamental level. But in his later years, Einstein expressed grave dissatisfaction […]
- Life
Genome may be mostly junk after all
A cross-species comparison suggests that more than 90 percent of the DNA in the human genome has no known function.
- Health & Medicine
Immune gene variants help stop HIV
Research on HIV-infected people who rarely develop AIDS might lead to better drugs or a vaccine.
- Space
EPOXI spacecraft encounters comet
Passing within 700 kilometers of the peanut-shaped Hartley 2 nets detailed pictures.
- Life
Central dogma of genetics maybe not so central
In thousands of genes, RNA frequently fails to accurately transcribe DNA.
- Space
Magnetars may fuel briefer bursts
Rapidly spinning neutron stars could be the source of some short gamma-ray explosions, astronomers propose.
- Planetary Science
New rock type found on moon
Odd spots on the lunar farside could be ancient material that originated deep inside the moon.
- Tech
Coming soon: Holographic Skype
The creators of the fastest telepresence system to date predict real-time 3-D TV in a decade.
- Health & Medicine
MRIs pinpoint time of stroke
Doing a magnetic resonance scan promptly when a patient arrives at a hospital could render more patients eligible for a time-sensitive clot-busting therapy that can limit brain damage.
- Chemistry
Skin is no barrier to BPA, study shows
The new finding suggests handling store receipts could be a significant source of internal exposure to the hormone-mimicking chemical.
