News

Astronomy

Going the Distance: Galaxies may hail from early universe

Using a cosmic magnifying glass to peer into the deepest reaches of space, two teams of astronomers have discovered tiny galaxies that may be among the most distant known.

Paleontology

Flying Deaf? Earliest bats probably didn’t echolocate

Fossils of a cardinal-sized creature recently unearthed in western Wyoming suggest that primitive bats developed the ability to fly before they could track their prey with biological sonar.

Health & Medicine

Caffeine intake tied to miscarriage

Intake of caffeine equal to two cups of coffee per day seems to double a woman's risk of miscarriage.

Humans

Heed your elders, survive a tsunami

An oral tradition passed down among islanders in the South Pacific saved many lives during a tsunami last year and illustrates the benefits that community-based education and awareness programs can provide.

Tech

Nanocrystal

Researchers have used DNA as Velcro to create the first materials that spontaneously assemble into regular 3-D patterns.

Animals

Bird fads weaken sexual selection

There's a new look for a hot male among lark buntings every year.

Humans

Wish List: FY ’09 budget proposal ups physical sciences

President Bush's proposed 2009 federal budget would boost R&D in the physical sciences while reining in biomedical research.

Health & Medicine

Pot Downer: Marijuana users risk gum disease

Regular marijuana smoking is linked to gum disease in young adults.

Ecosystems

Spread of nonnative fish mirrors human commerce

Invasions of foreign freshwater fish are more common in areas with relatively high economic activity, suggesting that humans are a part of the problem.

Animals

Whales Drink Sounds: Hearing may use an ancient path

Sounds can travel to a whale's ears through its throat, an acoustic pathway that might be ancient in the whale lineage.