ON THE HUNT Astronomers are using the Very Large Array of radio telescopes in New Mexico (shown) to look for big black holes in small galaxies.
NRAO, AUI, NSF, Jeff Hellerman
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In the May 11 & 25 SN: High-tech cricket farming, AI learns from Minecraft, looking for lithium, a new hominid species is named, signs of life in dead pig brains, Cherokee cave texts decoded, water molecules on the moon and more.
EASING PARENTS' FEARS One-year-old Bella Huang shares her displeasure at receiving the MMR vaccine, for measles, mumps and rubella, in Seattle in March. Nobody likes to see their baby in pain, even for a few seconds, and that discomfort makes some parents hesitant about vaccinating their children.
Lindsey Wasson/REUTERS
MEMORY WIPE Measles virus particles bud out from an infected cell (left) after replicating inside the cell in this colored electron micrograph.
NIBSC/science source
GLOBAL HOT SPOTS As shown here in 2018, Colombia set up border stations to vaccinate Venezuelans who were fleeing unrest at home so that measles wouldn’t spread in Colombia. Snapshots of several countries show how stopping spread of the disease depends on local conditions and beliefs.
SCHNEYDER MENDOZA/getty images
Science News
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Mathematicians report possible progress on proving the Riemann hypothesis
A new study advances one strategy in the quest to solve the notoriously difficult problem, which is still stumping researchers after 160 years.
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Being bilingual is great. But it may not boost some brain functions
A large study of U.S. bilingual children didn’t turn up obvious benefits in abilities to ignore distractions or switch quickly between tasks.
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Big black holes can settle in the outskirts of small galaxies
Astronomers have found dozens of surprisingly massive black holes far from the centers of their host dwarf galaxies.
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Finding common ground can reduce parents’ hesitation about vaccines
Physicians are examining whether discussing shared health goals can bring vaccine-hesitant parents on board.
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Spherical flames in space could solve the mystery of soot-free fires
In microgravity, flames are sphere-shaped. Tests of fire on the International Space Station are helping show how gases flow within flames.
Feature
How the battle against measles varies around the world
Measles is a global health threat. Snapshots of several countries show how stopping its spread depends on local conditions and beliefs.
News in Brief
Sweaty, vinegary and sweet odors mingle to make dark chocolate’s smell
Scientists have worked out the chemistry of dark chocolate’s smell and reconstructed the aroma.
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Measles erases the immune system’s memory
The measles virus can usher in other infections for months, or even years.
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Faulty cellular antennae may cause a heart valve disorder
Mitral valve prolapse might be caused by dysfunctional primary cilia meant to signal cells during development.
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Emissions of a banned ozone-destroying chemical have been traced to China
Since 2013, eastern China has increased its annual emissions of a banned chlorofluorocarbon by about 7,000 metric tons, a study finds.
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A cognitive neuroscientist warns that the U.S. justice system harms teen brains
The U.S. justice system holds adolescents to adult standards, and puts young people in situations that harm their development, a researcher argues.
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Some plants use hairy roots and acid to access nutrients in rock
Shrubs in mountainous areas of Brazil have specialized roots that secrete chemicals to extract phosphorus from rock.
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Signs of red pigment were spotted in a fossil for the first time
For the first time, scientists have identified the chemical fingerprint of red pigment in a fossil.
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Bad moods could be contagious among ravens
Ravens may pick up and share their compatriots’ negativity, a study on the social intelligence of these animals suggests.
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The kilogram just got a revamp. A unit of time might be next
After years of preparation, new definitions for the basic units of mass, temperature and more have now gone into effect.
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This early sauropod went from walking on four legs to two as it grew
A new computer analysis shows how Mussaurus patagonicus’s weight shifted toward its hips as it grew, confirming fossil hints of how its gait changed.
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How allergens in pollen help plants do more than make you sneeze
A plant’s view of what humans call allergens in pollen grains involves a lot of crucial biology. And sex.
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Key parts of a fruit fly’s genetic makeup have finally been decoded
Jumping genes may make it possible to divvy up chromosomes.
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An experiment hints at quantum entanglement inside protons
Particles inside protons seem to be linked on a scale smaller than a trillionth of a millimeter.
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Vaccines may help bats fight white nose syndrome
Researchers are developing an oral vaccine that helps little brown bats survive the fungal disease white nose syndrome.
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Does eating ultraprocessed food affect weight gain? It’s complicated
Laying off ultraprocessed foods and switching to whole foods may help some people manage their weight, a small study finds.
News in Brief
Some dog breeds may have trouble breathing because of a mutated gene
Norwich terriers don’t have flat snouts, but can suffer the same wheezing as bulldogs. It turns out that a gene mutation tied to swelling could be to blame.
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Bloodthirsty bedbugs have feasted on prey for 100 million years
Research sheds light on the evolutionary history of the bloodsucking bedbugs. The first species evolved at least as early as the Cretaceous, scientists say.
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Fossil teeth push the human-Neandertal split back to about 1 million years ago
A study of fossilized teeth shifts the age of the last common ancestor between Neandertals and humans.