Neandertal Know-How August 1, 1998 | Volume 154 | Number 5 Cover: Neandertals may have used stone points, like these found in the Near East, as spear tips. Some Neandertals may have hunted regularly and  invented a distinct style of jewelry. (Photo: John J. Shea, State University of New York at Stony Brook)

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News of the Week:

In a nearby star-forming region, astronomers have discovered circularly polarized light that could explain why terrestrial life uses only left-handed amino acids and right-handed sugars.

 

Radiation treatments for some types of lung cancer have decreased survival in certain patients, according to a review covering 30 years of studies.

 

The killer waves that struck Papua New Guinea may have drawn their power from an unusually slow and shallow earthquake.

 

 

A circle of RNA helps viruses stuff DNA into their empty shells.

 

A small, light-emitting shark gouges cookie-shaped plugs out of bigger animals attracted by its dark, fish-shaped chin patch.

 

A novel apparatus for studying flow patterns in a stirred liquid helps researchers elucidate the link between mixing and chaos.

 

Two kinds of tundra differ in their capacity to store carbon dioxide, a distinction that may affect predictions of global climate change.

 

The correlation between air temperatures from one day to the next declines at an identical rate for different places around the world, suggesting a fundamental, planet-wide influence.

 

Cloned mice make long-awaited debut

Scientists have cloned about 50 mice from adult cells, proving Dolly the cloned sheep was no fluke.

 

 

Frozen in time: Cells’ clocks tick on

Rat skin cells thawed after 25 years show daily rhythms of gene activity — evidence that individual cells maintain biological clocks.

 

Quick cracking of secret code

Cryptographers have dramatically reduced the time required to identify the numerical key for decoding a message encoded with the widely used Data Encryption Standard.

 

Computers in the house

The proportion of households with computers increased from 8 percent in 1983 to 43 percent in 1997.

 

Researchers solve syphilis genome

Biochemists have mapped the entire genome of Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis.

 

Asthma drug’s effect fades over time

After 2 weeks of regular use, morning doses of an asthma preventive, salmeterol, fail to ward off attacks late in the day.

 

Smart threads act sensibly when hit

Fibers of a compound that converts mechanical energy to electricity and vice versa can be integrated into a composite material to sense movement or dampen vibrations.

 

Vacuuming metals into molds

Drawing molten metal into a mold from the bottom by means of suction enables the production of thin-walled steel components.

 

Burger boxes as starchy as the bun

Biodegradable foam packaging can be manufactured out of starch, chalk, and wood fiber.

New studies suggest that Neandertals may have hunted extensively and made personal ornaments for symbolic communication.

 

Unusually small bacteria that precipitate calcium and other minerals to create shells are found inside kidney stones.