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Cover of Science News

Frozen in Time

August 29, 1998 | Volume 154 | Number 9

Cover: Hidden in horizontal stripes on this Namibian cliff are clues to one of the biggest climatic crises in Earth's history. More than 700 million years ago, the planet may have become completely entombed in ice, according to a new hypothesis.The cliff displays a thick stack of carbonate rocks that record conditions just after that ice age. (A.J. Kaufman)

Features:  MathTrekspaceFood for Thought spaceScience Safari

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References & SourcesClick on this icon listed by each article to get full references and sources.

News of the Week:

Male Good Looks Take Feminine Turn

References & SourcesMen whose faces have a slightly rounded, feminine shape may look more appealing to women, for reasons grounded in humanity’s evolutionary past.

 

Robotic weather-vane-to-be crosses sea

References & SourcesA 13-kilogram miniature plane became the first robotic aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, raising hopes for better collection of vital oceanic weather data.

 

Smoking moms pass carcinogen to infants

References & SourcesPregnant women who smoke transmit a potent cancer-causing substance to their babies before birth.

 

A sound way to take the sea's temperature?

References & SourcesLoud sounds emitted underwater can measure the temperature of the Pacific Ocean.

 

Magnesium: Another metal to bone up on

References & SourcesLike calcium, magnesium may be a pivotal mineral for preserving bones and heading off osteoporosis.

 

How cardinals tell her songs from his

References & SourcesFemale cardinal songs, which sound very similar to the male songs, have more overtones and are readily distinguished by the birds.

 

Hormone links malnutrition and immunity

References & SourcesThe hormone leptin, known for its role in appetite, influences how immune cells act.

 

Any Mars life would be hard to find

References & SourcesGeophysical energy on Mars may have powered the evolution of a modest amount of microorganisms, perhaps too few for researchers to expect to find.

 

Research Notes:

Behavior

Drugfree dose of help for hyperactivity

References & SourcesA new parent training program may offer an effective treatment for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, without the need for medication.

 

Up close and cultural

References & SourcesTurkish women report fears of interpersonal closeness and abandonment not characteristic of Westerners but that may be useful in forming intimate relationships  in that culture.

 

Biomedicine

Alzheimer's link to eye disease seen

References & SourcesA mutant variety of the gene that codes for apolipoprotein puts people at lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease but at higher peril of getting macular degeneration.

 

Reducing the risk of ovarian cancer

References & SourcesWomen with a mutation in a BRCA gene, who face an increased risk of ovarian cancer, may be able to reduce that risk by taking birth-control pills.

 

Articles:

Popsicle Planet

The king of all ice ages may have spurred animal evolution

References & SourcesEarth may have repeatedly lurched back and forth from being totally ice-covered to basking in a greenhouse climate.

 

Why Guys Get Fancy

The diversity of private parts mystifies biologists

References & SourcesFemale preferences may explain why male genitalia seem to evolve more rapidly than other body parts.

 

Twists Through Space

Interactive software helps sculptors visualize and refine their creations

References & SourcesA collaboration between a sculptor and a computer scientist produces novel works of art.

 

Letters:      A Selection from Letters to the Editor

 

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