Science News

All Stories by Science News

  1. Professor Stewart’s Hoard of Mathematical Treasures by Ian Stewart

    The math professor returns with more brain teasers, puzzles and facts designed to reveal the fun side of the subject. PROFESSOR STEWART’S HOARD OF MATHEMATICAL TREASURES BY IAN STEWART Basic Books, 2010, 339 p., $16.95.

  2. Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality by Manjit Kumar

    The story of quantum mechanics and the decades-long argument about how to interpret it. QUANTUM: EINSTEIN, BOHR, AND THE GREAT DEBATE ABOUT THE NATURE OF REALITY BY MANJIT KUMAR W.W. Norton & Co., 2010, 448 p., $27.95.

  3. Dogs: Domestication and the Development of a Social Bond by Darcy F. Morey

    An anthropologist describes the evolution of the dog and explores how this creature became man’s best friend. DOGS: DOMESTICATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCIAL BOND BY DARCY F. MOREY Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010, 356 p., $45.

  4. Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature by Sarah C. Campbell

    Kids can learn about this special set of numbers from color nature photos. GROWING PATTERNS: FIBONACCI NUMBERS IN NATURE BY SARAH C. CAMPBELL Boyds Mill Press, 2010, 32 p., $17.95.

  5. Letters

    A placebo’s true nature There is a serious misconception put forth in the letter from William Davis (Feedback, SN: 5/22/10, p. 31). The placebos used for placebo-controlled, double-blind studies of pharmaceuticals are not “sugar pills.” These placebos are made from the same inactive ingredients in the same proportions used to make the dosage form containing […]

  6. Science Future for July 17, 2010

    July 25 – 29 An international group of animal behavior specialists meets in Williamsburg, Va. See animalbehaviorsociety.org/absmeetings August 22 – 26 The fall meeting of the American Chemical Society is held in Boston. See www.acs.org September 1 Deadline to submit videos for Science’s “Dance Your Ph.D.” Contest. See submission guidelines at gonzolabs.org/dance

  7. Science Past from the issue of July 16, 1960

    From the issue of July 16, 1960 One-eyed robot hunts objects lost in the sea — A one-eyed, swimming robot with powerful claw-like pincers is being developed for hunting and retrieving objects lost in the ocean at depths up to 2,000 feet. Solaris, as the robot is called, has propellers for motion. When its TV […]

  8. Book Review: Pandora’s Seed: The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization by Spencer Wells

    Review by Nathan Seppa.

  9. Book Review: Not Exactly: In Praise of Vagueness by Kees van Deemter

    Review by Sid Perkins.

  10. Exploring the Solar System with Binoculars by Stephen James O’Meara

    Backyard observers can make the most of basic tools. EXPLORING THE SOLAR SYSTEM WITH BINOCULARS BY STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010, 156 p., $29.99.

  11. Super Structures: The Science of Bridges, Buildings, Dams, and Other Feats of Engineering by Mark Denny

    Structures stand, soar and collapse based on fundamental physics principles. SUPER STRUCTURES: THE SCIENCE OF BRIDGES, BUILDINGS, DAMS, AND OTHER FEATS OF ENGINEERING BY MARK DENNY Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2010, 266 p., $30.

  12. Life in the Hothouse: How a Living Planet Survives Climate Change by Melanie Lenart

    A scientist explains how the planet adjusts to warming. LIFE IN THE HOTHOUSE: HOW A LIVING PLANET SURVIVES CLIMATE CHANGE BY MELANIE LENART Univ. of Arizona Press, 2010, 236 p., $22.95.