Uncategorized
- Planetary Science
Water’s role in Martian chemistry becoming clearer
As mission nears end, Phoenix Mars Lander finds strong evidence for minerals similar to those formed on Earth by liquid water.
By Ron Cowen - Space
Hubble suddenly quiet
Updated September 30: After the orbiting observatory suddenly stopped transmitting data, NASA announced planned repair mission will be delayed at least until early next year
By Ron Cowen - Paleontology
Forget bird-brained
Scientists have uncovered a new dinosaur that breathed like a bird.
- Life
Curtain drops after ants’ final act
A handful of ants remain outside to close the colony door at sunset and sacrifice their lives in the act.
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Largest known prime number found
Featured Math Trek column: The Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search, a cooperative computing project, helps find a prime that has nearly 13 million digits.
- Math
Following the ocean swirls
The mathematics of dynamical systems reveals ocean dynamics, an understanding that could improve the monitoring of ocean processes.
- Humans
The Science Vote
Science News runs down what the two presidential candidates and their campaigns have been saying about science and technology issues.
By Janet Raloff - Humans
The Science Vote: Spending priorities differ
Federal funding for academic research — a major engine of innovation — has experienced an “unprecedented” two-year decline, the National Science Foundation reported in late August. Between fiscal years 2005 and 2007, Uncle Sam’s share of academic research funding fell from 64 percent to 62 percent. To take up the slack, universities turned to industry […]
By Janet Raloff - Humans
The Science Vote: Linking energy to greenhouse risks
Science and technology have not played out as major presidential campaign issues this year. And following Sen. John McCain’s unexpected announcement that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would be his running mate, even foreign policy and major energy issues have been relegated to the back seat as the media feverishly probe the views, background and administrative […]
By Janet Raloff - Space
With a twinkle, pulsating stars could deliver signals from E.T.
Neutrino beams may turn Cepheids into messengers for advanced alien civilizations.
By Ron Cowen - Space
Galaxies on the move
Scientists discover "dark flow" -- the unexplained streaming of galactic clusters across the universe.
- Humans
The first sound bites
During the 1908 presidential race, Taft and Bryan sounded off in a new way as use of the phonograph got serious.
By Ron Cowen