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Planetary ScienceNew moons for Neptune?
Astronomers say they have discovered three additional moons circling Neptune.
By Ron Cowen -
AstronomyGamma-ray burst leaves ephemeral afterglow
A ground-based telescope on automatic pilot has taken one of the earliest images ever recorded of the visible-light afterglow of a gamma-ray burst, one of the most energetic flashes of radiation in the universe.
By Ron Cowen -
Health & MedicineClot promoter cuts surgical bleeding
A clot-promoting protein known as recombinant activated factor VII might offer a new way to staunch demand for blood transfusions.
By Ben Harder -
Psychiatric drugs surge among kids
The proportion of children and teenagers in the United States taking drugs prescribed for psychiatric disorders more than doubled from 1987 to 1996.
By Bruce Bower -
EarthElectronic Jetsam
Oceanographers are developing and deploying a variety of seafaring probes—including drifters, gliders, and scientific torpedoes—that will enable them to explore and monitor the ocean remotely.
By Sid Perkins -
EarthWhy the Mercury Falls
Certain pollutants can foster the localized fallout of mercury, a toxic heavy metal, from the atmosphere.
By Janet Raloff -
19172
I was encouraged to read this article. I’ve often wondered when researchers outside addiction research would realize type II diabetes is the result of addiction to foods that chronically elevate insulin levels, thus acting as antidepressants. Once physicians recognize carbohydrate abuse as drug abuse, we’ll be better situated to provide appropriate interventions. Betty Streett Clarksdale, […]
By Science News -
MathChemical Dissections
In recreational mathematics, a geometric dissection involves cutting a geometric figure into pieces that you can reassemble into another figure. For example, it’s possible to slice a square into four angular pieces that can be rearranged into an equilateral triangle. The same four pieces can be assembled into a square or an equilateral triangle. Sets […]
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From Bone to Brain: Transplanted male bone marrow makes nerve cells in women and girls
Transplanted bone marrow can form new nerve cells in the brains of people.
By John Travis -
19171
After reading this article, I couldn’t believe that the manuscript didn’t identify the chemical substance involved. Eck Prud’hommeFort Worth, Texas The amino acid mentioned in the story is p -aminophenylalanine .–J. Gorman
By Science News -
ChemistryUnnatural Biochemistry: Bacteria make and use an alien amino acid
Researchers have constructed an organism that synthesizes and incorporates an extra amino acid into its proteins.
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Smells Like Emotion: Brain splits duties to sniff out feelings
A study suggests that a brain structure called the amygdala assesses the emotional intensity of both pleasant and unpleasant sensations, thus challenging prior evidence that it primarily coordinates fear responses.
By Bruce Bower