Uncategorized

  1. Animals

    Strong Medicine: Over-the-counter remedy snags snakes

    Acetaminophen—the active ingredient in Tylenol—vanquishes brown tree snakes, the bane of Guam.

    By Janet Raloff

  2. 19100

    This article mentions that “toxicology studies suggest that crabs, birds, rodents, and cats face little risk from the baits.” Acetaminophen in fact is lethal to cats. Cats may be safe, however, because of their preference for live food. John WeissDallas, Texas

    By Science News
  3. Physics

    Sunlight Sponge? Energy trackers gauge water vapor’s wild dance

    Atmospheric water vapor takes in more solar radiation than has been indicated by measurements and models, but laser probes of highly agitated water molecules suggest that the vapor doesn't absorb enough radiation to explain the discrepancy fully.

    By Peter Weiss
  4. Ecosystems

    Pfiesteria’s Bite: Microbe may kill fish by skinning, not poisoning

    At least one kind of Pfiesteria—accused of killing fish and threatening human health—does not produce a toxin but kills by eating holes in fish's skin, some researchers say.

    By Susan Milius
  5. Health & Medicine

    Fullness Factor: Gut hormone tells brain the stomach is well fed

    A hormone produced by the intestines could be the primary satiety signal sent to the brain.

    By John Travis
  6. Astronomy

    Visible Matter: Once lost but now found

    New observations confirm that most of the visible matter in the universe lies hidden in vast, hard-to-detect gas clouds between galaxies.

    By Ron Cowen
  7. Plants

    Recent tree scourge poses garden threat

    Lab tests suggest that a lethal disease of oak trees in California and Oregon could strike some popular garden shrubs in the rhododendron family.

    By Susan Milius
  8. Plants

    Disease outpacing control in largest chestnut patch left

    An unusual test of a biological control for the blight that's killing American chestnuts doesn't look good in the largest remaining patch.

    By Susan Milius

  9. Speech loses beat in dyslexia

    The severe reading disorder known as dyslexia may involve an inability to perceive a critical rhythmic beat that separates parts of spoken words.

    By Bruce Bower
  10. Health & Medicine

    Ulcer bug linked to stroke

    Potent strains of an ulcer-causing bacterium may also trigger strokes.

    By Damaris Christensen
  11. Health & Medicine

    Lab tool may spawn new antiviral drugs

    Short strands of RNA can be used to stop viruses such as HIV.

    By John Travis
  12. Health & Medicine

    Breast-feeding has protective bonus

    Breast-feeding appears to help ward off breast cancer.

    By Damaris Christensen