September 8th, 2001
issue

  • Galaxy's Black Hole: X Rays Mark Spot
    An X-ray outburst from the center of our galaxy is providing compelling new evidence that a monster black hole lurks at the Milky Way's core. (p. 148)
  • Feline stimulant fends off mosquitoes
    Preliminary results suggest that catnip may be more effective at repelling mosquitoes than the widely used chemical DEET. (p. 148)
  • Arteries may be vulnerable to HIV attack
    HIV may directly interact with cells in arteries, predisposing people to heart attacks. (p. 149)
  • Even deep down, the right whales don't sink
    A right whale may weigh some 70 tons, but unlike other marine mammals studied so far, it tends to float rather than sink at great depths. (p. 149)
  • Glutamate paths surface in schizophrenia
    Three new studies indicate that altered transmission of glutamate, a key brain chemical, plays an influential role in the severe mental disorder known as schizophrenia. (p. 150)
  • Antarctic sediments muddy climate debate
    Ocean-floor sediments drilled from Antarctic regions recently covered by ice shelves suggest that those shelves were much younger than scientists had previously thought. (p. 150)
  • Aircraft spies on health of coral reefs
    Marine ecologists report the development of a new remote-sensing system that can assess the health of coral reefs from planes. (p. 151)
  • Gene implicated in deadly influenza
    A strain of influenza virus that struck in Hong Kong in 1997 got some of its lethality from a mutation in the gene encoding an enzyme called PB2. (p. 151)
  • Immunity's Eyes
    Proteins called toll-like receptors allow human immune cells to detect microbes. (p. 152)
  • Faster, Better, Cleaner?
    Chemists have found that a new class of compounds, called ionic liquids, can substitute for widely used, messy organic solvents while also performing better and producing new products of interest to industry. (p. 156)
  • Audiovisual aids may lessen dyslexia
    A short training course in matching sound sequences with visual patterns shows promise as a way to boost reading skills in children with dyslexia. (p. 155)
  • A tip of the tongue to the brain
    Researchers have identified several brain areas that together underlie the experience of feeling certain that a piece of forgotten information is nonetheless on the tip of one's tongue. (p. 155)
  • Geneticists define new elephant species
    A new study of the genetics of African elephants shows that forest dwellers differ so much from those roaming the savannas that the two may be separate species. (p. 155)
  • Seabird makes citrusy bug repellant
    Auklet feathers carry a cocktail of citrus-smelling chemicals, including compounds that squashbugs secrete to repel predators. (p. 155)
  • Walking and eating for better health
    A low-fat diet and regular exercise can ward off diabetes in people at high risk of developing the disease. (p. 159)
  • Study challenges surgery for lung disease
    Patients with the most severe emphysema shouldn't undergo major surgery that removes part of their damaged lungs. (p. 159)
  • Tiny spheres may deliver oral insulin
    Researchers have developed microscopic spheres that can sneak insulin past the stomach so it can be absorbed in the small intestine. (p. 159)
  • Argon keeps chips and lettuce crisp
    A new technique replaces the air in food packages with argon instead of widely used nitrogen, improving taste and shelf life. (p. 159)
  • Novel material fights against cavities
    A new material that dentists might eventually put under fillings and braces secretes calcium and phosphate ions to rebuild teeth as cavities form. (p. 159)
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