All Stories by Science News
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19896
This article indicates that Adam appeared on the fifth day. The actual day of Adam’s appearance, according to Genesis, chapter 1, is the sixth day. Nathan S. ClemonsEtchison, Md. I found your reference to the Christian creation myth offensive. I’ll bet it brought the same feeling to anyone else who, like me, has worked to […]
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19895
Mild vibration encourages precursor cells to turn into muscle and bone. This seems like something NASA could use to keep astronauts fit. Rich DesiletsSanta Rosa, Calif. It would be interesting to some way check fat versus muscle cells in airline pilots and crew; ship crews; anyone who rides the subways to work or the passengers […]
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19894
This article says that chikungunya means “stooped over in pain” in an African dialect. But which one? Africa has a thousand languages, many of which have more than one dialect. Pol ShwingkCarlisle, Iowa The word comes from the language of the Makonde people of eastern Africa, although it has sometimes been labeled erroneously as Swahili. […]
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19893
“Antibiotics in infancy tied to asthma” (SN: 7/7/07, p. 14) reported a correlation but no confident explanation for the relationship between receiving antibiotics and later developing asthma. This article, which reports that children with Helicobacter pylori in their stomachs are less likely to get asthma, seems to offer a convincing answer. Virginia BrockRock Island, Ill.
- Humans
Letters from the October 27, 2007, issue of Science News
Heated dispute “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature” (SN: 8/25/07, p. 125) states that “an increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, not an increase in solar radiation” is responsible for current global warming. What is the scientific—not political—basis for that remark? Warren FinleyLaguna Beach, Calif. Increasing solar radiation doesn’t affect climate change? […]
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From the October 16, 1937, issue
Biological prospecting on two remote mesas near the Grand Canyon, a newly described and widespread form of meningitis, and primate fossils from the Crazy Mountains of Montana.
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LEDs for the Rest of Us
Light emitting diodes, better known as LEDs, are the coolest new light sources. They’re tiny, long-lived, and rugged. But how do they work? Check out this site if you desire considerably more detail than can be found in a two-sentence summary. Go to: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/led.htm
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19892
In this article, researcher Curtis Marean refers to Stone Age people using a reddish pigment for “body coloring or other symbolic acts.” What reason is there for jumping to this conclusion? As with cave painting and figurines, there seems to be an undue emphasis on symbolism and a supposition that everything has to have “meaning,” […]
- Humans
Letters from the October 20, 2007, issue of Science News
Well, read Margit L. Bleecker appears to have discovered that those who score highly on reading tests also score highly on tests of memory, attention, and concentration (“How reading may protect the brain,” SN: 8/18/07, p. 110). I don’t find that highly surprising. Ivan MannHoover, Ala. How it happened stance “Alien Pizza, Anyone?” (SN: 8/18/07, […]
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19891
This article describes hydrazine hydrate as a benign and cost-effective alternative fuel to hydrogen. But hydrazine hydrate is a fuming liquid that is toxic, very corrosive, and can decompose explosively. In a reaction with hydrogen peroxide, it powered the German V-2 rockets in World War II. Carl F. Guerci Jr.Severna Park, Md.
- Humans
From the October 9, 1937, issue
Aging ships' hulls rejuvenated by welding, public health workers target five major diseases, and Plato celebrated as the first "round-Earther".
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19890
The DNA analysis indicating that some south Siberian bones from the Pleistocene age are from Neandertals matches very well with my interpretation of teeth from those same caves. I proposed in 1990 that the teeth were more like those of Neandertals than any other fossil or modern teeth. Furthermore, it is doubtful that these south […]
