Uncategorized
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Seven Wonders of the Universe That You Probably Took for Granted by C. Renée James
A lighthearted tour of everyday phenomena like light, time and gravity that also explores what makes Earth special and the evolution of life. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2011, 240 p., $25.
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Meteorites by Caroline Smith, Sara Russell and Gretchen Benedix
A well-illustrated overview of the science and (literal) impacts of these space rocks. Firefly Books, 2011, 112 p., $19.95.
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Better risk assessments through molecular biology
As director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s NexGen Program, toxicologist Ila Cote leads a collaboration that brings together data, methods, skills and brains from diverse fields to better understand how chemicals interact with living things and the environment. In doing so, scientists hope to answer questions about potential risks from chemical exposure more quickly […]
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Science Past from the issue of April 22, 1961
RUSSIAN FIRST MAN IN SPACE — The Russians put the first man in orbit and returned him safely. A Soviet Air Force major, father of two, has circled the earth in 89.1 minutes, and come back, the official Russian news agency Tass reported. The height of the orbit varied from 110 to 188 miles. Maj. […]
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Science Future for April 23, 2011
May 6 Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks before dawn. Go to earthsky.org/tonight for info. May 6 The first female “private space explorer” speaks at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Awards. See www.carnegiesciencecenter.org May 15 Deadline to submit photos of “chemistry in our drinks” to the Colors of Chemistry calendar competition. Find out more at colorsofchemistry.org
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Letters
Science not in the zone It makes no sense to analyze basketball shooting streaks (“In the zone,” SN: 2/12/11, p. 26) as though they were similar to slot machines or video games, which are supposed to be random. Basketball shooting, and other sports activities, are definitely not random events.Walt Gray, Richland, Wash. I was very […]
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SN Online
Highlights from recent online-only stories
- Space
Baffling blowup in distant galaxy
A high-energy blast has gone on for 11 days, puzzling astronomers as to its source.
- Space
Pioneer puzzle pinned on thermodynamics
Waste heat, not exotic physics, is slowing two 1970s-era space probes down more than would be expected, a new study claims.
- Health & Medicine
Gut microbes may foster heart disease
In breaking down a common dietary fat, helpful bacteria initiate production of an artery-hardening compound, mouse experiments suggest.
- Space
Fermilab data hint at possible new particle
For the second time in weeks, results from powerful collisions of protons and antiprotons at Fermilab’s Tevatron accelerator can’t be explained with standard model of physics.
- Life
Why diversity rules
A new experiment demonstrates the way a multitude of specialized species absorb nutrients more effectively than a highly productive one.
