Uncategorized
- Ecosystems
Brave Old World
If one group of conservation biologists has its way, lions, cheetahs, elephants, and other animals that went extinct in the western United States up to 13,000 years ago might be coming home.
By Eric Jaffe - Humans
Letters from the November 11, 2006, issue of Science News
The Carolinas to New Jersey “Bad-News Beauties: Poison-spined fish from Asia have invaded U.S. waters” (SN: 9/9/06, p. 168) cites evidence of a severe genetic bottleneck, suggesting that perhaps no more than three pregnant females launched the expanding western Atlantic red lionfish population. How can there be “pregnant females” in an animal with the external […]
By Science News -
19753
This article reminds me that in preantibiotic days, tuberculosis patients were put on a fresh-air-and-sunshine regimen. Could the vitamin D so acquired account for the cures this system sometimes produced? Nancy AxfordSacramento, Calif. Researcher John J. Cannell points to TB sanitariums as anecdotal evidence that sunlight fights infections. —J. Raloff Does the vitamin D in […]
By Science News - Health & Medicine
The Antibiotic Vitamin
Because vitamin D turns on a major germ killer in the body, a deficiency in the nutrient may leave people especially vulnerable to infections.
By Janet Raloff - Humans
From the October 31, 1936, issue
Ancient Egyptian tombstones, political party preferences, and a new record for starvation.
By Science News - Humans
Thinking Math and Science
This site describes itself as the online community for academically talented youth. Developed by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, it provides timely news articles about scientific advances, profiles of researchers, information on summer programs and academic competitions, book reviews, and even a humor section, with items gathered from a wide variety of […]
By Science News - Health & Medicine
Abated Breath: Serotonin problems may contribute to SIDS
Babies who die of sudden infant death syndrome show abnormalities in the regulation of the chemical serotonin in their brains.
- Astronomy
Rejuvenating Observatory: Green light given for space telescope repairs
NASA this week gave the go-ahead for a shuttle crew to refurbish the Hubble Space Telescope and to install new detectors that would vastly improve its capabilities.
By Ron Cowen - Earth
Flow West, Young River: Ancient Amazon ran opposite today’s route
The forerunner of the mighty Amazon ran from east to west, a new analysis of rocks laid down by that ancient river suggests.
By Sid Perkins - Health & Medicine
L’Chaim: Wine compound lengthens mouse lives
A constituent of red wine appears to increase the life spans and boost the well-being of mice that haven't followed the healthiest of lifestyles.
- Materials Science
Dribble Quibble: Experiments find that new basketball gets slick
According to preliminary results from a study at a physics lab, a new basketball for professional players bounces less elastically, veers more when it bounces, and becomes more slippery when damp than does a leather ball.
By Peter Weiss - Health & Medicine
Helping Hands: Brief rehab method aids arm activity after stroke
Stroke survivors who have difficulty using an arm or a hand experience lasting mobility gains after completing an unusual 2-week rehabilitation program.
By Bruce Bower