Science News

All Stories by Science News

  1. Fast Car Physics by Chuck Edmondson

    Fans of fast wheels and science alike will get a charge from this look at motor sports by a physicist and amateur race car driver. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2011, 229 p., $29.95.

  2. Genes & Cells

    Cellular suicide inspires new ways to kill harmful bacteria, plus test-tube sperm and insulin alternatives in this week’s news.

  3. Loving + Hating Mathematics by Reuben Hersh and Vera John-Steiner

    Tales of mathematicians’ engagement with their subject bring to life this examination of the human and cultural aspects of math. Princeton Univ. Press, 2011, 416 p., $29.95.

  4. The Most Human Human by Brian Christian

    The Turing test competition, an annual search for the most “human” computer, is the thread in this tour through the makings of human intelligence. Doubleday, 2011, 303 p., $27.95.

  5. Letters

    Water at the start, and later “Liquid acquisition” (SN: 1/15/11, p. 26) discusses two new models about how Earth got its water. But the two models are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, I wonder if perhaps two (or more) sources of water may be the only way to match all of the observed isotopic abundances. Is […]

  6. Health & Medicine

    Body & Brain

    Handling fruit can throw off blood-glucose tests, plus an autism gene and itchy feelings in this week’s news.

  7. Life

    Life

    Cells can sense a tough road ahead, plus promiscuous amoebas and sensitive birds of prey in this week’s news.

  8. Space

    Atom & Cosmos

    Ancient galaxies are found in a surprisingly full-grown state, plus stellar hearts and Mars’ rocky past in this week’s news.

  9. Humans

    Humans

    A proud face is more attractive than a happy one, plus abstract art and goal-oriented babies in this week’s news.

  10. Chemistry

    Molecules/Matter & Energy

    Particles found surfing on hot plasma, plus spinning atoms and a new deep-Earth mineral in this week’s news.

  11. Earth

    Earth/Environment

    Nuclear-test monitoring eavesdrops on volcanoes, too, plus tiny tar balls and nonstick hemoglobin in this week’s news.

  12. Life

    Genes & Cells

    The genetics of wrinkly dogs, plus cancer killers and diabetes thwarters in this week’s news.