All Stories
- Astronomy
Oort cloud tosses astronomers a cometary curveball
In late November, ISON will deliver debris from the dawn of the solar system to Earth’s doorstep.
- Chemistry
Oxygen shapes growth of graphene
The number of atoms on a copper surface changes the size and rate of the material's crystal development.
- Health & Medicine
New definition of ‘full term’ narrows on-time arrival window
Until now, babies born at any time during a wide five-week window were considered fully cooked. Now, a panel of clinicians says otherwise.
- Physics
Top 10 scientific supers
From supersonic to supernova, superego and supersymmetry, a roundup of science’s super superlatives.
- Chemistry
Water squishes into stable shapes, no container required
Nanoparticles lock together to hold water in place for more than a month.
- Life
Scorpion venom kills pain in mice
Toxin works with nerve proteins to block distress signals’ journey to brain.
- Physics
Four atoms make a material
A new experiment gives physicists clues about when to describe atoms as individuals and when to describe them as acting as a group.
- Humans
What makes a face go round
Genetic enhancers acting far away from their intended genes can help shape a face during development.
- Health & Medicine
Inactive HIV poses even greater barrier to cure
The reservoir of dormant virus strains is larger than scientists estimated, a finding that could make the virus harder to combat.
- Animals
Maybe Britain shouldn’t kill its badgers
A study on badger social networks shows that isolated badgers are the ones that most often carry TB and cause infections among — but not within — groups.
- Animals
Common pesticides change odds in ant fights
Species’ combat success can rise or fall after repeated exposure to a common neonicotinoid insecticide.
- Psychology
Groups recall travel details better than loners
Small teams of people can recite key information from public announcements better than any one person.
