Uncategorized
- Humans
The Ignobility of Wrinkles
A theoretical study of the way skin, apple peel, and bedsheets wrinkle has won this year's Ig Nobel Prize in Physics.
- Humans
Letters from the October 20, 2007, issue of Science News
Well, read Margit L. Bleecker appears to have discovered that those who score highly on reading tests also score highly on tests of memory, attention, and concentration (“How reading may protect the brain,” SN: 8/18/07, p. 110). I don’t find that highly surprising. Ivan MannHoover, Ala. How it happened stance “Alien Pizza, Anyone?” (SN: 8/18/07, […]
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Stem Cells from Virgin Eggs
Making embryonic stem cells from unfertilized eggs might bypass many ethical concerns, but important scientific hurdles remain.
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Emotional memory
The action of a stress hormone could be why emotionally charged events form especially vivid and durable memories.
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Bacteria thrive by freeloading
Mutant bacteria thrive by freeloading off their hard-working kin, but these slackers revert to working normally if they become too numerous.
- Materials Science
Feet of clay, but superstrong
Gluing together nanoscale clay particles with a simple adhesive creates a strong but flexible material.
- Tech
CD players could serve as cheap lab tools
Ordinary CD disc players can be adapted to perform chemical assays and possibly medical diagnoses.
- Astronomy
Motion of two nearby galaxies clouds the picture
The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are not gravitationally bound to the Milky Way, but are relative newcomers passing by for the first time.
- Planetary Science
Titan: Land of lakes—and drizzle
A newly assembled mosaic of radar images of Saturn's moon Titan shows what appear to be hydrocarbon lakes and seas.
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19891
This article describes hydrazine hydrate as a benign and cost-effective alternative fuel to hydrogen. But hydrazine hydrate is a fuming liquid that is toxic, very corrosive, and can decompose explosively. In a reaction with hydrogen peroxide, it powered the German V-2 rockets in World War II. Carl F. Guerci Jr.Severna Park, Md.
- Chemistry
Platinumfree fuel cell
Cheaper than a typical hydrogen fuel cell, a new, platinumfree cell runs on a "green" liquid fuel.
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Not Just Hitchhikers
Salmonella and other human pathogens on vegetables aren't just riding along like casual smears of dirt; they're moving in and setting up housekeeping.
