Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Humans
Algae as biofuel still rough around the edges
Sources of nutrients, carbon dioxide can make or break this potential renewable fuel heavyweight
- Health & Medicine
Searing the heart for the better
Electrode-tipped catheter destroys heart tissue to stifle atrial fibrillation, sometimes performing better than meds, study shows.
- Health & Medicine
Millions of women at risk of malaria during pregnancy
Potential problems include undetected illness and anemia in mothers, stillbirth and low birth weight in newborns,
- Humans
Teacher anxieties may subtract from girls’ math scores
In first and second grade, female teachers’ insecurity with numbers may correlate to some girls’ doing poorly in math.
- Climate
IPCC’s Himalayan glacier ‘mistake’ not an accident
A London newspaper reports today that the unsubstantiated Himalayan-glacier melt figures contained in a supposedly authoritative 2007 report on climate warming were used intentionally, despite the report’s lead author knowing there were no data to back them up.
- Humans
Common stain repellent linked to thyroid disease
Long-term health study shows connection with blood levels of perfluorooctanoic acid.
- Earth
Tsunamis could telegraph their imminent arrival
Telecommunication cables could give early warnings of giant waves.
- Math
Slime mold is master network engineer
Single-cell organism develops food distribution system that is as efficient as the Tokyo rail system; inspires new math model for designing dynamic systems.
- Life
MRSA bacterial strain mutates quickly as it spreads
Antibiotic-resistant microbe's detailed family tree reveals roots of the global infection.
- Life
Protein may be new target for obesity, diabetes therapies
Molecule regulates flip of a metabolic switch, helps determine how the body uses glucose.
- Earth
Feds propose banning giant snakes
Today, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced plans to ban the importation and interstate transport of nine species of giant snakes. It’s a good idea, but a little like closing the barn door after the horse — or in this case, the pythons and anacondas — got loose.
- Humans
Minor air traffic delays add up to big costs
On average, the economic impact of late flights exceeds that of hurricanes
