A New Gap in the Antibiotic Arsenal

A strain of staphylococcus bacteria appears resistant to all known antibiotics.

Patients savor this brain disorder

Some strokes and other brain injuries leave their victims with a newfound appreciation for fine foods.

No bones about it: Gene vital to skeleton

A recently discovered gene controls the development of bone-forming cells called osteoblasts, and mutations in the gene cause a rare skeletal disorder in people.

Elderly intellect may owe a lot to genes

A study of Swedish twins, all at least 80 years old, finds that genes influence cognitive abilities about as much as schooling and other environmental factors.

Mud volcano stews in chilly Arctic waters

A layer of snowy methane lies atop a warm mud volcano, the oceanographic equivalent of apple pie a la mode.

Can houseflies spread the ulcer bacterium?

The microbe responsible for ulcers and other stomach ailments can live on houseflies, although it remains to be seen whether flies transmit the pathogen.

Astronomers make magnetic map of a star

The first detailed chart of a star's magnetic field reveals a pattern similar to that of the sun.

Pinning down a superconductivity theory

The electron pairing mechanism responsible for superconductivity in conventional superconductors isn't necessary to account for the effect in the high-temperature superconductor thallium barium copper oxide.

Research Notes:

Astronomy

Comet reservoir gets more real

Spectra of Comet Hale-Bopp provide new evidence that the Oort cloud actually exists.

X rays and comets

Several models attempt to explain the X-ray glow emitted by comets when they near the sun.

Behavior

Squares live longer

Emotionally stable individuals attain much better physical health and live far longer than those who encounter major depression and other forms of mental anguish.

Mental disorders in Israel

A survey of Israeli adults finds that nearly half suffer from a mental disorder at some time in their lives, but only about 3 percent ever abuse alcohol or illicit drugs.

Biomedicine

Cell phones and pacemakers

Some cellular phones can interfere with implanted devices that regulate the heartbeat.

Moles heighten skin cancer risk

The number and appearance of skin moles may indicate a person's risk of a deadly skin cancer.

Earth Science

Australia's enigmatic tremor

A puzzling seismic shock in remote Australia has seismologists wondering whether the event was caused by an earthquake, a nuclear blast, or a meteorite impact.

Articles:

From Soup to Us

Cosmic ripples test inflation

Astronomers are now on the brink of testing whether random subatomic ripples during the first fraction of a second after the Big Bang gave rise to the cosmic structures seen today.

Null Science

Psychology's statistical status quo draws fire

A growing number of psychologists charge that their field needs to wean itself from the mindless application of certain statistical practices, especially a technique known as null hypothesis testing, and pursue different methods of exploring mind and behavior.

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