News in Brief
- Physics
Shifting grains may explain earthquake lightning
Mysterious lightning before or during earthquakes could get its spark from underground shifting.
- Astronomy
Galaxy drags trail of stars behind it
A Hubble Space Telescope image shows the galaxy ESO 137-001 dragging star trails behind it as it plows through the Norma galaxy cluster.
- Neuroscience
Music doesn’t move some people
One study offers a glimpse into those who find no enjoyment in tunes.
- Physics
Material’s magnetism tuned by temperature
Layered substance may lead to more reliable hard drives in the future.
- Tech
Shining a light on radio waves
A new device detects faint signals by first converting them to laser pulses.
- Health & Medicine
HPV vaccination proves its worth in Australia
A study in Australia finds the shots are already reducing cases of abnormal cervical lesions.
- Anthropology
Human ancestors at West Asian site deemed two species
Researchers see two species instead of one at oldest known Homo site outside Africa.
- Astronomy
Pulsar pulverizes an asteroid
The steady beat of a pulsar may occasionally be interrupted by collisions with asteroids.
- Health & Medicine
Acetaminophen use in pregnancy linked to kids’ slightly higher risk of ADHD
A large analysis shows an association between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and slightly higher risks of ADHD, but it does not prove the pain reliever causes the disorder.
- Environment
Legionnaires’ disease bacteria lurk in tap water
Found in nearly half of faucets, contamination could explain sporadic cases of disease.
- Health & Medicine
Mesh best for hernia repair
Data from nine studies show fewer recurrences than fixes with sutures only.
- Astronomy
While exploding, supernovas not spherical
X-rays reveal uneven allotment of element made by blowup.
