Uncategorized
- Chemistry
Chemistry Catches Cocaine at Source
Scientists have devised a method for identifying cocaine's geographical origin by determining the chemical signatures of five distinct coca-growing regions in the Andes.
- Humans
Letters from the July 3, 2004, issue of Science News
Whale, of an annoyance In “Din among the Orcas: Are whale watchers making too much noise?” (SN: 5/1/04, p. 275: Din among the Orcas: Are whale watchers making too much noise?), Rus Hoelzel states, “One thing I want to make clear is that I think whale watching is a good thing.” He then states that […]
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19435
It is very disappointing that this article has not a word about any disagreement surrounding the health and related consequences of global warming, let alone of any disputes about its very likelihood. Tibor R. MachanOrange, Calif. The article asserts that malaria and other tropical diseases will migrate northward with global warming. This ignores the fact […]
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19434
I was surprised to find no mention of Linus Pauling’s theory of anesthesia in this article. In 1961, Pauling provided detailed arguments that interactions between anesthetic agents and water, rather than lipids, form hydrate microcrystals in the brain that entrap side chains of proteins and interfere with electrical oscillations. Stephen Lawson Linus Pauling Institute Corvallis, […]
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Comfortably Numb
Scientists are finding the molecular targets of anesthetics.
- Math
Dogs Catching Frisbees
When navigating to intercept a thrown Frisbee, dogs appear to use the same geometric strategy that a baseball fielder employs to snag a fly ball hit into the outfield.
- Earth
Long dry spell
Falling reservoir levels in the western United States are just one symptom that the region is suffering through a drought that may be the worst to strike in the past 500 years.
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When Protein Breakdown Breaks Down: Bacterial toxin yields signs of Parkinson’s
Certain compounds that hinder cells from destroying waste proteins can produce symptoms of Parkinson's disease in rats.
- Materials Science
Cool Magnet: A little bit of iron gives magnetic refrigeration a boost
An improved material moves magnetic refrigeration one step closer to commercial reality.
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Mr. Universe Jr.: Child’s gene mutation confirms protein’s role in human-muscle growth
A boy born with extra-large muscles has mutations in a gene regulating muscle growth.
- Health & Medicine
Cancer with a Twist: Protein instrumental in breast-cancer metastasis
A protein called Twist, which orchestrates gene activity in cells, facilitates the spread of some breast cancers.
