More Stories from the August 24, 2013 issue
- Life
Lab-grown liver raises hopes but draws criticism
Though human cells spontaneously group into rudimentary organs, some scientists say work is very preliminary.
- Anthropology
Agriculture’s roots spread east to Iran
Dig supports prolonged development of domesticated crops at ancient sites across the Fertile Crescent.
- Earth
Every six years, Earth spins slightly faster and then slower
Changes in day length linked to workings of Earth's core.
- Astronomy
The solar system has a tail
Clover-shaped clumps of charged particles extend billions of kilometers in our wake.
- Tech
Sound waves put levitation on the move
Technique transports nonmagnetic particles such as cells, water droplets and coffee grounds.
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- Paleontology
Dinosaur had impressive schnoz
Fossils found in Utah reveal geographic segregation of horned species.
- Astronomy
Milky Way’s black hole pulling in gas cloud
Galaxy's maw begins to tear apart and change the velocity of an approaching object.
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- Cosmology
Gold seen in neutron star collision debris
Material ejected in gamma-ray bursts may be a main source of the heavy elements.
- Animals
Eye-tracking cameras show peahens’ wandering gaze
Data show that female birds are not so riveted by their suitors’ magnificence
- Life
A flash of light implants false memories in mice
Researchers alter rodents' recollections by exciting just a few neurons.
- Health & Medicine
Gastric bypass surgery causes sugar-burning gut growth in rats
The rapid improvement in symptoms of diabetes, seen in patients before weight loss begins, may be due to changes in part of the intestine.
- Health & Medicine
Full moon may mean less sleep
Slumber waxes and wanes along with lunar rhythm, researchers find with people sleeping in windowless lab.
- Planetary Science
Cassini photo puts Earth in perspective
Probe captures planet from 1.4 billion kilometers away.
- Anthropology
Mummified Incan teen drank, did drugs
Girl, who was sacrificed, may have been sedated by alcohol, coca leaves.
- Physics
Doppler effect takes a spin
Light’s twistiness allows researchers to measure rotating object’s speed.
- Life
Evolution of mammalian monogamy remains mysterious
Two large studies reach opposing conclusions about why males stay with females.
- Neuroscience
One sleepless night weakens resolve in the face of doughnuts
Sleep loss changes brain activity and food preferences.
- Science & Society
Flu researchers plan to repeat controversial work
The scientists who made the H5N1 strain transmissible between ferrets intend to do the same with H7N9.
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- Science & Society
Impactful Distraction
Talking while driving poses dangers that people seem unable to see.
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Letters to the editor
Bohr no boor As described in “When the atom went quantum,” (SN: 7/13/13, p. 20), Bohr’s willingness to travel both paths when different viewpoints seemed to clash, yet both seemed to fit the data, was crucial to the development of quantum mechanics. Yet that willingness cannot be equated with acceptance of all possible views. Having […]
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