All Stories
- Math
Rating the rankings
The U.S. News & World Report rankings of colleges and universities are largely arbitrary, according to a new mathematical analysis.
- Space
No naked black holes
In a simulated merger, astrophysicists tried to push the boundaries of two black holes into shedding their event horizons. But the resulting black hole was still shrouded by its event horizon, through which even light can’t escape.
- Earth
A near-record Arctic melting
This summer, the area covered by Arctic sea ice dropped to its second-lowest since satellite measurements began in 1979.
- Life
Honeybees play follow-the-leaders
Avert your eyes, Margaret, it's a streaker bee! High definition cameras have caught streaker honeybees flying fast above the swarm, leading the crowd to a new home.
- Chemistry
Trapping Compact Fluorescents’ Toxic Gas
New nanomaterials may offer a solution to mopping up a toxic pollutant associated with fluorescent lighting.
- Life
Beetles grow weed killer
Beetle moms carry their own bacteria for making a compound to protect their gardens.
- Chemistry
Oops! A Fluorescent Light Breaks
Toxic mercury will be released whenever a fluorescent lamp breaks.
- Earth
Sea-level history off the ice
For the first time, researchers have assembled a comprehensive record of how sea level varied between 542 million and 251 million years ago, more than doubling previous timelines for such fluctuations.
- Physics
Shaping up the sun
The most accurate measurements yet of the sun’s shape show that magnetic activity plays a role in making the sun appear more oval than it really is.
- Life
Bicoastal Atlantic bluefin tuna
Mediterranean and western Atlantic bluefin tuna spend more time in mixed groups than previously thought, suggesting management strategies need to be revisited.
- Chemistry
Fluorescent bulbs offer mercury advantage
Featured blog: Switching to light bulbs that contain mercury might, surprisingly, reduce overall mercury releases to the environment. Plus, what to do when you break your fluorescent bulb.
- Physics
Diamonds engage at the nano scale
Manipulating the quantum properties of diamond impurities makes diamond into a kind of microscope that could, for example, reveal the inner working of cells.
