Notebook

Astronomy

Source of puzzling cosmic signals found — in the kitchen

One type of radio burst has a pretty mundane origin: prematurely opened microwave ovens.

Planetary Science

A modest Plutonian proposal

Flagstaff, Echidna, Spock. Naming conventions for the landscapes of Pluto and its moons are proposed ahead of the arrival of the New Horizons probe.

Astronomy

The art of astronomy

Astronomer Zoltan Levay uses the Hubble Space Telescope to create stunning images of cosmic landscapes.

Health & Medicine

Early birth control study probed effectiveness of pill

A 1960s study probed birth control pills’ effectiveness for women. Researchers are still trying to make a pill for men.

Environment

Tampons: Not just for feminine hygiene

Tampons soaked in polluted water glow under UV light, revealing detergent-filled wastewater in rivers.

Astronomy

‘Supernova sweeping’ cleans up a galaxy’s gas

Supernovas might sweep the remaining gas out of a galaxy after a supermassive black hole triggers the end of star formation.

Astronomy

Enigmatic 17th century nova wasn’t a nova at all

A nova observed in 1670 was actually two stars colliding, new evidence suggests.

Animals

Piggyback rides and other crocodile fun

We don’t know the playful side of crocodiles perhaps only because we haven’t looked.

Climate

Winter storms 24 times as deadly as estimated

By ignoring car and plane crashes related to bad weather, U.S. tallies of winter storm deadliness severely underestimate hazard.

Tech

Plans fizzled for nuclear-powered artificial heart

In 1965, researchers saw a nuclear-powered heart in the future.

Genetics

The upside of a demolished chromosome

A woman’s rare genetic disease was cured when a chromosome carrying the mutant gene shattered.

Animals

Snail shell creates blue iridescence with mineral

Mollusk shines blue using calcium compound rather than organic molecule.