All Stories
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19449
Your article says that sunspots are 3,500°C. Yet further in the article, it says that the solar flare of Nov. 4, 2003, was 41 million°C. Is that a typographical error? Bruce BarnbaumGranite Falls, Wash. That’s no typo. The release of magnetic energy in the sun’s atmosphere during a flare heats the material that’s been ejected […]
- Earth
Parting Shots
Data collected during an 18-day barrage of major solar flares late last year—including a record-setting coronal mass ejection on Nov. 4—will help scientists refine models of flare formation and behavior.
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19448
I just read “Deception Detection” and I must say that I am surprised that no one used high-limit poker players to analyze if a person is bluffing. The art of poker is calling people on their bluffs. Martin J. WagnerIndiana University A successful poker player must be able to bluff successfully, at least on occasion, […]
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Deception Detection
Psychologists are trying to see whether the statistically significant deception signals found in laboratory experiments exist in high stakes, realistic lies, and whether real lie detectors, such as police officers and judges, are able to detect them.
- Humans
Letters from the July 31, 2004, issue of Science News
More than child’s play? While reading about the amazing properties of Archimedes’ Stomachion (“Glimpses of Genius,” SN: 5/15/04, p. 314: Glimpses of Genius), I wondered whether a mere child’s toy would exhibit such mathematical precision, with each vertex falling on a lattice point of a 12-by-12 grid. Perhaps Archimedes took the basic plan of the […]
- Math
Math Olympiad in Athens
A team from the United States placed second in this year's International Mathematical Olympiad.
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Wonders of Saturn
As the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft begins its detailed exploration of Saturn, get up-to-date information about this fascinating planet and intriguing moons and rings. The Exploratorium’s colorful Saturn Web pages provide data, images, access to Webcasts, and more. Go to: http://www.exploratorium.edu/saturn/
- Humans
From the July 21, 1934, issue
Artificial lightning surpasses nature's own, Dutch Elm disease attacks trees in eastern states, and zinc found to be an essential part of animal diet.
- Animals
Trail Mix: Espionage among the bees
Tests with two kinds of stingless bees suggest that the more aggressive species uses scent-based espionage to target raids on the milder species' food.
- Health & Medicine
Potential Block for Epilepsy: Researchers find new drug target
Using genetically engineered mice, scientists have identified a new target in the brain for drugs that could prevent epilepsy.
- Earth
Dangerous Dust? Chemicals in plastics are tied to allergies
Elevated risks for developing multiple allergies, including asthma, eczema, and rhinitis, appear to be associated with household exposure to synthetic chemicals called phthalates.
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Parasite Pursuit: Sand fly coughs up leishmania protozoan’s secrets of proliferation
A parasite spread by the sand fly secretes gel into the throat of the fly, which then regurgitates it when it bites a person, spreading the infection.
