Uncategorized
- Earth
Livestock manure stinks for infant health
Megafarm production associated with infant illness and death rates.
- Life
For worms, one gene can change survival behavior
Natural differences in a single gene cause worms to either eat or avoid harmful bacteria.
- Space
Whiff of Martian methane offers lively possibilities
The definitive discovery in Mars’ atmosphere of methane — often, but not always, a compound hinting at life — introduces the possibility of underground organisms.
- Life
Capuchin monkeys choose the right tool for the nut
New field experiments indicate that wild capuchin monkeys choose the most effective stones for cracking nuts, suggesting deep evolutionary roots for the use of stone tools.
- Health & Medicine
Using checklist reduces surgery complications
Measure twice, cut once: Going over a checklist of procedures in the operating room before and after surgery lowers the complication rate and, in developing countries, saves lives, a study in eight hospitals shows.
- Earth
World’s windiest ocean locale
News briefs from the American Meteorological Society annual meeting being held January 11–15 in Phoenix.
- Health & Medicine
Omega-3 fatty acid is early boost for female preemies
DHA given to newborns in the first weeks following birth improves brain development in girls, but not boys.
- Health & Medicine
Going nano to see viruses 3-D
Nanoscale MRI-like machine images individual virus shapes; first step to seeing proteins in 3-D
- Life
Dinosaur fossil reveals creature of a different feather
Paleontologists have discovered a fossil partially covered with broad, unbranched filaments — a type of structure previously theorized to exist on primitive feathered dinosaurs but not found until now.
- Life
Genetic sameness could be factor in Tasmanian tiger extinction
The first complete mitochondrial genome of the Tasmanian tiger is revealed. Analysis shows little genetic diversity.
- Archaeology
Armenian cave yields ancient human brain
A team of scientists has excavated 6,000-year-old artifacts and three human skulls, including one containing a preserved brain, from a cave bordering Armenia’s Arpa River.
- Archaeology
Early chemical warfare comes to light
Investigations of a Roman garrison in Syria conquered in a massive assault by Persians nearly 2,000 years ago have uncovered evidence of the earliest known chemical warfare.
