News
- Humans
2012 budget offers pain and gain for R&D
In a year of federal belt-tightening, the administration prioritizes basic research, education, clean energy and environmental science.
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- Physics
‘Magnetricity’ behaves like electricity
Currents of monopole-like magnetic charges created in an exotic material called spin ice act much like electricity.
- Space
Black holes take light for a spin
Reseearchers say they have found a way to directly observe the existence of spinning black holes.
- Space
Milky Way munched on galactic snack
The galaxy appears to have gobbled up stars from another galaxy 700 million years ago, and may still have an appetite.
- Physics
‘Atomtronics’ may be the new ‘electronics’
A research team has created a quantum circuit that may help lead to the development of a new class of devices.
- Tech
The numbers prove it: This is a data age
An assessment of the world’s computing capacity documents a staggering rise in power and storage since 1986.
- Humans
Lucy’s feet were made for walking
A 3.2-million-year-old toe fossil suggests a humanlike gait for an ancient hominid.
- Life
Moonless twilight may cue mass spawning
Subtle color shifts on the nights just after the full moon might synchronize the release of gametes by corals and other marine creatures.
- Life
Fleas leap from feet, not knees
After years of scratching their heads over the question of exactly how the impressive jumpers launch themselves, scientists find an answer.
- Health & Medicine
Prenatal surgery may be preferable for spina bifida
Performing an operation preterm shows better results against the neural tube defect than waiting until the baby is born, but there are trade-offs, a new study shows.
- Life
Small part of brain itching for a fight
A cluster of cells compels aggressive behavior in mice.
