All Stories

Math

Turn of the Screw

“What we are told about Archimedes is a mix of a few hard facts and many legends,” Sherman Stein of the University of California, Davis notes in his book Archimedes: What Did He Do Besides Cry Eureka? A three-bladed Archimedes screw. Courtesy of Chris Rorres. I was reminded of that statement when my son Kenneth […]

Math

Conquering Catalan’s Conjecture

Innocent-looking problems involving whole numbers can stymie even the most astute mathematicians. As in the case of Fermats last theorem, centuries of effort may go into proving such tantalizing, deceptively simple conjectures in number theory. Now, Preda Mihailescu of the University of Paderborn in Germany finally may have the key to a venerable problem known […]

Animals

Oops. Woodpecker raps were actually gunshots

The knock-knock noises recorded last winter that raised hopes for rediscovering the long-lost ivory-billed woodpecker in Louisiana turn out to have been gunshots instead of bird noises.

Math

Algebra, Philosophy, and Fun

I don’t often encounter the words “philosophy” and “fun” right next to the term “algebra.” Nowadays, these words don’t seem to fit together comfortably. However, the three terms do appear in the title of an engaging little book called Philosophy and Fun of Algebra, written by Mary Everest Boole (1832–1916) and published in 1909. I […]

Ecosystems

The Buzz over Coffee

Most people consider the continued spread of Africanized honeybees in the Americas as horrifying news. Nicknamed killer bees, these notorious social insects rile into stinging mobs with little provocation. But new research finds evidence that these irritable insects have been performing a hitherto unrecognized service for people around the world. They’ve helped keep down the […]

Tech

Making a Little Impression: New chip-making method may mold the industry

A simple mechanical means of embossing silicon may offer an alternative to conventional chip-making methods.

Health & Medicine

Stem Cell Gain: Bone marrow cells seem to have what it takes

Tests show that a rodent bone marrow cell similar to one found in people acts as a multipurpose stem cell, much as embryonic stem cells do.

Astronomy

Planetary System in the Making? Stellar eclipse hints at planet-forming debris

Astronomers reported the first evidence that a young star is periodically eclipsed by a stream of debris, possibly an orbiting belt of asteroids held in place by a massive, unseen planet.

Chemistry

Molecule Sorting: Antibody membrane lends a hand

A new membrane may make it easier to separate mixtures of drug molecules that exist in mirror-image versions into their two components.

Health & Medicine

Enough Isn’t Enough: An epidemic of vitamin D deficiency

Many U.S. women of childbearing age, particularly those of African descent, lack sufficient vitamin D even though they consume the recommended amount.