News

Earth

Dead zones may record river floods

Microorganisms that live in seafloor sediments deposited beneath periodically anoxic waters near the mouths of rivers could chronicle the years when those rivers flooded for extended periods.

Earth

Lead’s a moving target at rifle ranges

The lead used in bullets and shotgun pellets can be a threat to the environment near rifle ranges but many of its hazards are manageable.

Physics

Spinning Earth drags space

Slight deviations of two Earth-circling satellites from their expected orbits appear to confirm a curious prediction from Einstein's relativity theory.

Chemistry

Cleaning up anthrax

Chemists have developed catalysts that spur common oxidants to quickly destroy germs, including deadly anthrax spores.

Astronomy

Belt Tightening: Icy orbs are surprisingly small

Objects in the distant reservoir of comets known as the Kuiper belt are intrinsically much brighter, and therefore smaller, than previously thought.

Health & Medicine

Lingering Loss: In 2-year diet trial, new pill keeps off weight

Obese adults who lose weight during a year of taking an experimental diet drug, rimonabant, and dieting keep the weight off during the following year, if they continue the regimen.

Health & Medicine

Problems for Preemies: Early birth is linked to insulin overproduction

Children born prematurely are more likely than their full-term counterparts to develop insulin resistance, a marker for diabetes.

Tech

Lighthearted Transistor: Electronic workhorse moonlights as laser

A versatile new transistor amplifies electricity and emits a laser beam.

Chemistry

Busy Beads: Magnetic dust takes droplets for a ride

With a bit of dust and a magnet, chemists can shuttle drops around on a surface, an advance that could lead to chemistry labs on a chip.

Materials Science

New lithium battery design charges up

Researchers have developed a new, safer type of electrode for lithium batteries.