More Stories from the January 17, 2009 issue
- Space
New window on the high-energy universe
New telescope finds that the high-energy share of gamma-ray bursts arrive at Earth significantly later than the low-energy portion.
- Earth
Surprise find taps into magma
In a scientific first, engineers drill into a subterranean pocket of molten rock.
- Tech
Hot new memory
A study of the physics of phonons, quantum packets of heat, suggests that controlling the flow of heat could be another way to store digital information.
- Health & Medicine
Bacteria help themselves in damaged lungs
An antibiotic produced by a bacterium acts as a molecular snorkel to help with breathing. The bacterium infects and kills many people with cystic fibrosis, and plugging the snorkel could lead to treatments.
- Life
Dinosaur day care dads
A new study shows some male dinosaurs may have been the primary caretakers of their young.
- Health & Medicine
For preemies, less is more
Multiple courses of steroid treatment for mom could harm premature babies.
- Humans
Taking trophy heads close to home
Members of the prehistoric Nasca culture in southern Peru took trophy heads from their own people rather than from foreigners captured in wars or raids, a new biochemical analysis suggests.
- Earth
Corals, turfgrass and sediments offer stories of climate past and future
Science News reports from San Francisco at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union
- Earth
Warmer oceans would fuel more thunderstorms
Satellite data reveal more thunderheads forming as tropical sea-surface temperatures rise.
- Life
Buzzing bees protect plant leaves
Honeybee air traffic can interrupt caterpillars' relentless munching.
- Health & Medicine
Experimental drug fends off emphysema in mice
Mice exposed to cigarette smoke and then ed the drug and fended of emphysema, suggesting the edible drug might help ex-smokers.
- Health & Medicine
Sense for morphine has gender gap
Female rats have fewer brain receptors that sense morphine, making the drug less effective. The work points to the need for more research on why medicine potency can vary among people.
- Health & Medicine
Disturbed sleep tied to Parkinson’s risk
People who have a disorder that causes them to thrash and kick during sleep face a high risk of developing Parkinson’s disease or other neurodegenerative disorders.
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- Microbes
Team spirit
Working together, bacteria and other microbes can accomplish much more than they can alone. Now scientists hope to harness that ability by engineering their own microbial consortia.
- Neuroscience
It’s written all over your face
To potential mates, your mug may reveal more than you think.
