News
- Animals
Beyond Falsetto: Do mice sing at ultrasonic frequencies?
Male mice may serenade prospective mates at pitches about two octaves higher than the shrillest sounds audible to the human ear. With Audio.
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Bad Readout from DNA: Genes that act on brain may promote dyslexia
Studies conducted in the United States, Germany, and England indicate that two genes, both located on chromosome 6 and involved in orchestrating neural migration in developing brains, contribute to the severe learning disorder known as dyslexia.
- Physics
Light Pedaling: Photonic brakes are vital for circuits
A novel silicon microchip device slows and varies light-pulse speeds—a function considered critical for the development of photonic circuits based on light instead of electrons.
- Health & Medicine
More Than an Annoyance: Breathlessness could be sign of bigger problems
People who have dyspnea, the sensation of being frequently out of breath, may have an increased risk of dying from heart problems.
- Planetary Science
New Partners: Hubble finds more moons around Pluto
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have spied two tiny moons orbiting Pluto, giving this planet a total of three satellites.
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Dopamine gene ups schizophrenia risk
A long-term study of children with a rare chromosome deletion indicates that those who have a single copy of a gene that promotes a dopamine overload in the brain have an above-average risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.
- Health & Medicine
Breath test could detect bad microbe
Using machines that identify component parts of gases, scientists can now detect markers of a dangerous fungal infection in the lungs of people just by analyzing their breath.
- Anthropology
Chimps indifferent to others’ welfare
New laboratory experiments suggest that chimpanzees, unlike people, don't care about the welfare of unrelated members of their social groups.
- Physics
A matter of gravity
Gravity Probe B has finished its test of general relativity but results of the study won't be known for another year.
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Read My Gestures: Body language can trump facial expressions
Body language can influence the perception of emotion on a person's face.
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Left Out by a Stroke: Right-brain injury may upset attention balance
People who suddenly ignore everything to their left after suffering a right-brain stroke display disturbed activity in uninjured parts of a widespread neural network associated with attention.
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SNPs Ahoy! Scientists complete map of genetic differences
A new map that delineates small genetic differences among people may be a powerful tool for figuring out why some individuals get certain diseases and how to customize their treatments.
