Physics
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Tech
Nobel Prize in physics awarded for work with light
Charles K. Kao wins for discoveries enabling fiber-optic communication, and Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith win for inventing the charge-coupled device
By Sid Perkins -
Chemistry
The element tin does what carbon will not
New bonding suggests scientists may need to rethink heavy metal chemistry.
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Animals
Spider men weave silken tapestry
It took herculean effort, but Madagascar crafters created an extraordinary piece of woven art from spider silk.
By Janet Raloff -
Chemistry
Changing charges make for squid rainbow
Study finds how proteins self assemble in the cells of Loligo squid to reflect different wavelengths of light
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Physics
Neutrons for military and medical imaging
An accelerator-based neutron-production system is being designed to cull bombs at risk of exploding prematurely — and make the feedstock for a major isotope used in nuclear medicine.
By Janet Raloff -
Particle Physics
Interview: Murray Gell-Mann
The scientist who developed quark theory turns 80 today. To mark the occasion, Science News presents an extended interview with the physicist.
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Health & Medicine
Cell phones: Feds probing health impacts
Senate hearing finds that biomedical research agencies aren't complacent about potential health effects of cell-phone radiation.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & Medicine
Hearing bolsters case for U.S. moly-making
Congress today addressed the need to wean America off of reliance on foreign sources of a feedstock of the most widely used isotope in medical imaging.
By Janet Raloff -
Materials Science
Velcro on steroids
Researchers have designed a steel analog of a well-known fastener.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
Sun is setting on incandescent era
After more than a century, Edison's light bulbs stand poised to go extinct.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
Cash for clunkers II: Appliances
States could soon roll out programs that help consumers replace energy hogging home appliances.
By Janet Raloff