Uncategorized
- Life
Bullied booby chicks end up OK
In a seabird nest, abuse by older siblings doesn’t hamper fitness.
- Chemistry
Receipts a large — and largely ignored — source of BPA
A host of small studies raises a big alarm about exposure to a hormone-mimicking chemical.
- Health & Medicine
Gut bacteria reflect dietary differences
A comparison of African and European children concludes that high-fiber, low-fat diets cultivate healthier intestinal microflora.
- Life
Marine census still counting new life-forms
The Gulf of Mexico ranked among the top five marine regions for number of known species.
- Life
Disabling cellular assassin prevents cancer
A counterintuitive experiment may help explain why survivors are more vulnerable to other malignancies later in life.
- Life
For ducks, penis length depends on the other guys
Male genitals grow longer with more competition from other males.
- Space
Dark matter eldorado
Astronomers have discovered that a nearby galaxy has the highest density of dark matter of any galaxy known.
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Birth of the beat
Music’s roots may lie in melodic exchanges between mothers and babies.
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Seeking a definition
Pitch is determined by a sound’s frequency. Notes that sit in different positions on a musical scale, called tones, have different pitches. Modern Western music, for example, combines 12 tones, with the A at the middle of a piano keyboard having a frequency of 440 hertz. Other cultures work with fewer tones. The first few […]
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Not just a pleasant sound
When people use music to share stories, comfort peers or worship gods, it takes on new meaning. Music’s roles vary depending on time and place. Bonding: Battle hymns, national anthems and alma maters unite people for a common cause and make them feel that they are a part of something larger. Marching bands (shown), for […]
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More than a feeling
Emotionally evocative, yes, but music goes much deeper.
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Moody tunes
To explore the effect that music has on the mind, Science News asked researchers to share a song they enjoy and the emotion it evokes. Ethan Ross, physicianSong: “Dark Star” by the Grateful Dead Emotion: “Elation, euphoria and wonder.” Virginia Naples, vertebrate paleontologist Song: “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot Emotion: “Sadness […]
