News
- Earth
Fallen Trees? Scotch pines emit nitrogen oxides into the air
Northern pine forests may exude nitrogen oxides—a contributor to smog and acid rain—in quantities that rival those produced by industry and traffic worldwide.
- Humans
Science Flair: Top U.S. science and engineering students reap recognition, rewards
Forty finalists in the 2003 Intel Science Talent Search received recognition and more than $500,000 in scholarships for their efforts toward solving original problems in science and engineering.
By Ben Harder - Animals
Fish That Decorate: Females prefer nests with pizzazz
If scientists give foil strips to male stickleback fish, the fellows carry them back to their nests for decoration, and it turns out that females seem to like guys with lots of shiny stuff.
By Susan Milius - Health & Medicine
Pressurized Pregnancies: Schizophrenia linked to fetal diuretic exposure
A Danish study has found that pregnant women who take diuretic medication for high blood pressure during the third trimester substantially raise the chances that their unborn children will develop schizophrenia by age 35.
By Bruce Bower - Astronomy
Planet’s Slim-Fast Plan: Extrasolar orb is too close for comfort
A new study of the atmosphere of a planet outside the solar system suggests that some orbs will vaporize if they orbit too close to their parent star.
By Ron Cowen - Earth
Killer Crater: Shuttle-borne radar detects remnant of dino-killing impact
Radar images gathered during a flight of the space shuttle Endeavour 3 years ago show the subtle topography related to the impact of an asteroid or comet that may have wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
By Sid Perkins - Health & Medicine
Tough Nut Is Cracked: Antibody treatment stifles peanut reactions
Researchers have successfully demonstrated the first preventive drug treatment against peanut allergy.
By Nathan Seppa - Physics
Bunches of atoms madly morph
While investigating the instability of tiny clusters of atoms, scientists observe ultrasmall salt grains switching shapes at a stupendous rate.
By Peter Weiss - Astronomy
Ordinary matter: Lost and found
Astronomers believe they have finally found the whereabouts of most of the ordinary matter in the universe.
By Ron Cowen - Health & Medicine
Abortion-cancer link is rejected
A workshop report concludes that abortions do not increase a woman's chance of developing breast cancer.
By John Travis - Animals
Vampire bats don’t learn from bad lunch
For the first time, a mammal has flunked a controlled test for developing a food aversion after getting sick just once, and that unusual creature is the common vampire bat.
By Susan Milius - Health & Medicine
Protective virus ties up HIV docking sites
A harmless virus that seems to keep HIV infections from progressing to AIDS appears to do so by occupying key molecular receptors on immune cells.
By Nathan Seppa