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Earth
Quantum physics explains core anomaly
Scientists have used the principles of quantum physics to answer the long-standing puzzle of why seismic waves travel at different speeds in different directions across Earth's inner core.
By Sid Perkins -
Earth
Himalayas may be due for big temblors
Scientists say that a narrow region that rims the southern edge of the Tibetan Plateau could be the spawning grounds for large earthquakes that could threaten millions in southern Asia in the decades to come.
By Sid Perkins -
Archaeology
Ancestors who came in from the cold
Researchers found the remains of a 36,000-year-old human occupation in the Russian Arctic, which represents the earliest evidence of a human presence that far north.
By Bruce Bower -
Archaeology
Neandertals used tools with versatility
Microscopic data from artifacts found at two Ukrainian sites indicate that Neandertals used stone tools in flexible ways that allowed them to maintain a broad diet for nearly 50,000 years.
By Bruce Bower -
18968
I’ve just read your account of the “ekpyrotic model” of the universe. Although descriptive, “ekpyrotic” seems rather contrived and is hard to pronounce. Certainly it lacks the pizzazz of “Big Bang.” And “Big Crunch” has been used previously to refer to the “anti-Big Bang” catastrophe thought to be awaiting the universe. How about the “Big […]
By Science News -
Astronomy
When Branes Collide
A controversial new theory proposes that our universe existed as a cold, featureless void for eons, until a parallel universe floating through a hidden fifth dimension crashed into it, igniting the Big Bang.
By Ron Cowen -
Animals
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!
Hungry chicks cheeping in their nest have inspired a whole branch of scientific inquiry.
By Susan Milius -
Math
Sand Drawings and Mirror Curves
To accompany the telling of a story or recounting of a fable, men of the Chokwe people in south-central Africa traditionally made sand drawings, called sona, to illustrate the tale. These highly stylized geometric illustrations also served as memory aids. Sand drawing. Paulus Gerdes Plaited mat designs. Mark Schlatter Lion’s stomach design. Mark Schlatter Example […]
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From the September 19, 1931, issue
ORCHIDS THAT LOOK LIKE GIRLS Plucked from their stems and stood on the table, they are the daintiest little dancers imaginable–dancers in the latest fashionable costumes at that. Their skirts are long and concealing, tight over the slim hips and flaring widely at the bottom. The dancers stand poised, their arms thrown up and out, […]
By Science News -
Chemistry
Web Elements
Want to know more than just selenium’s symbol, atomic number, and atomic weight? Created by chemist Mark Winter of the University of Sheffield, WebElements provides information on each chemical element’s history, uses, reactions, bulk and thermal properties, and more. Go to: http://www.webelements.com/
By Science News -
Earth
Dusty workplace may cause change of heart
Occupational exposure to fine dust can trigger adverse changes in the hearts of even strong, healthy workers.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & Medicine
Two drugs may enhance recovery from stroke
Two drugs, levodopa and dextroamphetamine, may help stroke patients to recover the ability to move and speak.
By Nathan Seppa