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19318
In regard to natural causes of coal fires, another cause not mentioned in the article involves the oxidation of pyrite, an iron sulfide that commonly occurs in coal beds. When oxygenated groundwater percolates through fractures in the coal, the sulfide in pyrite will be oxidized to sulfate. This reaction is exothermic and may produce enough […]
By Science News -
19240
I was diagnosed 12 years ago with Klinefelter’s syndrome, which has as a symptom low testosterone. After starting bimonthly injections of testosterone, I experienced some mild body changes but nothing excessive. I’m nearly 65 but feel like I’m 55. Testosterone may kill me some day by causing prostate cancer, but I’ll gladly take the risk […]
By Science News - Health & Medicine
Unproven Elixir
For aging men with low testosterone, hormone replacement may stall or counteract some common declines that come with age, but it'll take years to determine whether the treatment is doing most men more good than harm.
By Ben Harder - Humans
From the May 6, 1933, issue
AMERICAS FALCON POSES AGAINST PERFECT BACKGROUND Rarely is a perfect bird photographed against so perfect a background as the duck hawk, or American falcon, shown on the front cover of this issue of the Science News Letter. The photograph is by Dr. A.A. Allen of Cornell University, and the magnificent cataract plunging in the background […]
By Science News -
Shadows of the Infinite
The European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) and the London Institute joined forces to explore interactions between art and science. This Web site presents glimpses of some of the resulting productions and events–a play called “Life’s a Monkey,” an exhibition of artworks by 12 of Europe’s leading artists, a major symposium on art and science, […]
By Science News - Animals
Ballistic defecation: Hiding, not hygiene
Evading predators may be the big factor driving certain caterpillars to shoot their waste pellets great distances.
By Susan Milius - Health & Medicine
Upsetting a Delicate Balance: One gene may underlie various immune diseases
One form of an immune-system gene shows up more frequently in people with diabetes or certain thyroid diseases than in people free of those illnesses.
By Nathan Seppa - Astronomy
Chemistry of the Cosmos: Quasars illuminate the young universe
Measuring the composition of some of the earliest structures in the universe, two teams of astronomers have unveiled new findings about star formation in the young cosmos.
By Ron Cowen - Chemistry
Nanoscale Networks: Superlong nanotubes can form a grid
Researchers have made extraordinarily long carbon nanotubes and aligned them to create tiny transistors and sensors for detecting chemical and biological agents.
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Paddle Power: Surprising shape of key cellular pore unveiled
A molecular pore that controls the flow of ions into cells has an unexpected shape and mechanism.
By John Travis - Math
A Geometric Superformula
The notion of a simple equation that you can use to generate a wide variety of geometric shapes is an immensely appealing one. Johan Gielis of Antwerp, Belgium, proposes one such formula in the March American Journal of Botany. “Many geometrical forms, both in nature and culture, can be interpreted as modified circles,” Gielis states. […]
- Earth
Sensing a vibe
A sprawling network of seismometers that covers the Los Angeles area could be adapted to provide warning of damaging ground motions from earthquakes in the seconds before those seismic vibes arrive.
By Sid Perkins