Science News

All Stories by Science News

  1. Wonders of Saturn

    As the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft begins its detailed exploration of Saturn, get up-to-date information about this fascinating planet and intriguing moons and rings. The Exploratorium’s colorful Saturn Web pages provide data, images, access to Webcasts, and more. Go to: http://www.exploratorium.edu/saturn/

  2. Humans

    From the July 21, 1934, issue

    Artificial lightning surpasses nature's own, Dutch Elm disease attacks trees in eastern states, and zinc found to be an essential part of animal diet.

  3. 19447

    I have been puzzled at the consternation over the findings in this article. It’s common knowledge among people who treat patients with major depression that the time of greatest risk for suicide is when depression begins to lift. The person finally has more energy and mental focus but may still feel awful. Resolved never to […]

  4. Humans

    Letters from the July 24, 2004, issue of Science News

    Whee! I can pretty easily tell what was going through the kiddo’s mind while trying “in vain to scoot down a miniature slide” (“Toddlers’ Supersize Mistakes: At times, children play with the impossible,” SN: 5/15/04, p. 308: Toddlers’ Supersize Mistakes: At times, children play with the impossible). 1. “Slides are fun. Why not pretend to […]

  5. 19446

    This article shouldn’t make parents any less wary of allowing their children to come in contact with the chromated-copper arsenate wood structures. What children pick up on their hands from a deck or play set may wind up inside via hand-to-mouth transfers. John Peterson MyersWhite Hall, Va.

  6. 19445

    The cover type “Farewell to Hubble?” makes me wonder why we haven’t seen the headline “Farewell to the Current NASA Administrator?” The only reason I have heard for the cancellation of the planned servicing mission is “it’s too dangerous.” Almost anything worth accomplishing has some degree of danger associated with it. The administrator is just […]

  7. Humans

    From the July 14, 1934, issue

    Desert plants cope with permanent drought, study of twins gives clues to epilepsy, and airplanes collect weather information in flight.

  8. 19444

    Might donating blood reduce blood concentrations of organochlorines, once the body has time to regenerate blood? Bill WallerDallas, Texas Researchers Catherine Pelletier and Angelo Tremblay of Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, say this question is interesting but that the small quantity of donated blood wouldn’t significantly affect the overall concentration of organochlorines .—C. Lock

  9. Humans

    Caring for a Historic House

    The National Park Service offers advice on taking care of the exterior—or skin—of an old home. From repairing shingles and fixing chimneys to painting trim and improving site drainage, this online course provides handy pointers about what to do and what not to do to keep an historic house in good shape. Go to: http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/roofdown/index.htm

  10. Humans

    Letters from the July 17, 2004, issue of Science News

    Readers on reading Other librarians and I regularly discuss illiterate, functional, aliterate, and avid readers. I am pleased that research has begun into what happens in readers’ brains (“Words in the Brain: Reading program spurs neural rewrite in kids,” SN: 5/8/04, p. 291: Words in the Brain: Reading program spurs neural rewrite in kids). The […]

  11. 19443

    Not to detract from this project’s accomplishments or its potential, but does space really need tourists? It’s not a sideshow. It will still be dangerous and expensive. Assuming that space travel will be like today’s airline travel is mistaken, especially in the near term. Let’s remember that this project’s success so far also rests on […]

  12. 19442

    This article didn’t mention that professional journals usually charge exorbitant page charges, require that a paper be sent in a format that can be directly typeset, and price print and electronic subscriptions identically. What I conclude from this is that greed is as prevalent at professional societies as it is in the commercial world. Edmond […]