Science News

All Stories by Science News

  1. 19565

    Why should the whale study lead scientists to “change the way we view sleep”? Among whales, the priority is that babies not drown in the first weeks of life. Maturational processes thought to occur during sleep, such as brain development, might have to be put on hold while this critical lesson is learned. Our neonatal […]

  2. Humans

    Letters from the July 2, 2005, issue of Science News

    Chlorine’s fate? “Special Treatment: Tiny technology tackles mega messes” (SN: 4/23/05, p. 266), on the reaction of nanoparticles of iron with trichloroethane (TCE) contaminating an aquifer, states that the TCE is converted “into ethane.” What happens to the chlorine stripped off the TCE? Is it converted into insoluble inorganic compounds or is it available to […]

  3. Humans

    From the June 22, 1935, issue

    Beauty in a police radio transmitter, a new aid in controlling diabetes, and mathematical help for cake bakers.

  4. Animals

    Save the Tapir

    Tapirs are relatives of horses and rhinos. Sometimes known as “living fossils,” these unusual animals inhabit jungle and forest lands in Central and South America and Southeast Asia. The Tapir Gallery provides information about tapirs, including images and an extensive bibliography. A student section of the Web site, produced by the Tapir Preservation Fund, provides […]

  5. Humans

    Letters from the June 25, 2005, issue of Science News

    Dark secret? “Dark Influence: Most of the universe’s matter is out of sight, but not out of mind” (SN: 4/23/05, p. 264) made me wonder about the possibility of a continuum of matter. Could part of the problem in identifying dark matter be that only part of the spectrum of matter is observable by our […]

  6. 19564

    This article states that the gas-hydrate deposit near Prudhoe Bay “contains more than 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas. That’s twice the total amount of natural gas consumed annually in the United States. . . .” Does it behoove us to invest the time and dollars it will take to tap that field for a […]

  7. Humans

    From the June 15, 1935, issue

    Dedication of a new observatory, Einstein proved correct, and mice shed light on epilepsy.

  8. Health & Medicine

    Brain Aneurysms

    Nobody wants a brain aneurysm, a dangerous bulge in a blood vessel. But it’s comforting to know that aneurysms are often treatable. This Web site offers information on treatment options, recovery, support groups, and upcoming seminars. The Brain Aneurysm Foundation, a nonprofit group that provides education and support services to patients and their families, maintains […]

  9. 19563

    I am shocked and incensed by the study described in this article. It is unconscionable that nutritional counseling for gestational diabetes was kept from pregnant mothers. Susanna NapieralaKenwood, Calif.

  10. 19562

    It seems to me that “Earthlike” is overused in the media. One always ends up using too many qualifiers. Gliese 876’s orbit is very un-Earthlike, and its mass is too. Let’s wait until the star-to-planet distance of a future exoplanet ranges from that of Venus to Mars and the mass is no more than twice […]

  11. Humans

    Letters from the June 18, 2005, issue of Science News

    Road worriers “Navigating Celestial Currents: Math leads spacecraft on joy rides through the solar system” (SN: 4/16/05, p. 250) gives the casual reader the distorted view that one could travel the solar system at will by using these methods. These are generally small perturbations on the much larger primary propulsion requirement that is fixed by […]

  12. Humans

    From the June 8, 1935, issue

    Ancient, titanic beasts at a museum, a test of vision theory, and ethylene gas and ripening fruit.