All Stories

Climate

IPCC relied on unvetted Himalaya melt figure

British newspapers have uncovered what appears to be an embarrassing fact-checking omission by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. It regards the degree of glacial melting in the Himalayas — information that said parts of the area could be icefree a quarter century from now.

Life

Jiminy Cricket! Pollinator caught in the act

Using night-vision cameras, scientists have documented the first example of cricket pollination of an orchid and discovered a new species of the insect on the island of Réunion.

Anthropology

‘Modern’ humans get an ancient, nonhuman twist

Two new reports suggest that hominids other than Homo sapiens made complex stone tools and fancy necklaces.

Earth

Scientists scramble to analyze Haiti quake

Teams work to understand and model what could happen next.

Health & Medicine

BPA and babies: Feds acknowledge concerns

Federal health and research officials outlined new guidance today for parents on the use of plastics made from bisphenol-A, a hard, clear plastic. Their bottom line: Minimize BPA-based products that could make contact with foods or drinks that infants or toddlers might consume — especially hot foods and drinks. But the Food and Drug Administration stopped short of recommending that parents pitch baby bottles and sippy cups made from BPA. Nor did it call for parents to avoid processed infant formulas and baby foods — some of which it acknowledges are contaminated with traces of BPA.

Earth

Copenhagen Meeting Highlights

Find all the Science News coverage of the 2009 United Nation's climate summit in one place.

Astronomy

Astronomy Meeting Highlights

Follow the links below for Science News' complete coverage of the American Astronomical Society meeting held January 3–7, 2010 in Washington, D.C.

Physics

Just a stone’s throw forms a supersonic jet

Objects hitting water can move air at the speed of sound.

Humans

Zeus’ altar of ashes

News from the Archaeological Institute of America's annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif.

Humans

Graffiti on the walls in Pompeii

News from the Archaeological Institute of America's annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif.