News

  1. Animals

    Hornbills know which monkey calls to heed

    Hornbills can tell the difference between two kinds of alarm calls given by monkeys.

    By Susan Milius
  2. Planetary Science

    Revisiting a forgotten planet

    Engineers are readying a NASA spacecraft for a May 11 launch to Mercury, one of the least-explored planets in the solar system.

    By Ron Cowen
  3. Earth

    Smoking out a source of painful menses

    Breathing in secondhand smoke may contribute to the development of menstrual cramps.

    By Janet Raloff
  4. Earth

    Allergic to computing?

    The plastic cases of certain computer monitors emit a chemical—triphenyl phosphate—that can cause allergic reactions.

    By Janet Raloff
  5. Health & Medicine

    Immune response in brain sparks nausea

    Ailments ranging from the common cold to many types of cancer can make people nauseous, an effect that may occur because signals from the brain suppress the muscle contractions required for digestion.