Uncategorized

  1. Astronomy

    Passages

    By observing the minieclipses known as transits, when a distant planet passes in front of its parent star, astronomers are learning more about the size, composition, and temperature of exoplanets.

    By
  2. Humans

    Letters from the July 14, 2007, issue of Science News

    At least a few years to prepare “Northern Exposure: The inhospitable side of the galaxy?” (SN: 4/21/07, p. 244) posits that every 64 million years a mass die-off occurs due to increased cosmic rays. When will the cosmic rays again be at their maximum? Robert RichardsMetairie, La. The article failed to mention when the next […]

    By
  3. Humans

    From the July 3, 1937, issue

    A spectacular freak photograph of a solar eclipse, meteorites as the remnants of lost planets, and inducing dropsy in animals.

    By
  4. Ecosystems

    Sawfish Central

    Sawfish will soon be getting United Nations protection from exploitation. Right now, the only U.S. state where these ancient fish can generally be found—and then, only rarely—is Florida. Here’s a site to view the fish, a member of the shark family, and link to research aimed at rescuing populations of its seven beleaguered species worldwide. […]

    By
  5. Math

    Sudoku and Graph Theory

    Solving sudoku puzzles may not require mathematics, but mathematicians have found plenty to say about the popular brainteasers.

    By
  6. Health & Medicine

    Spermicide Flip Side: Compound may promote papillomavirus infection

    The widely used spermicide nonoxynol-9 may boost the infectiousness of human papillomavirus, mouse tests show.

    By
  7. Physics

    Dropping the Ball: Air pressure helps objects sink into sand

    A ball plunges deeper into sand under atmospheric pressure than under a vacuum, because the presence of air allows sand to flow like a liquid.

    By
  8. Materials Science

    Allergy Nanomedicine: Buckyballs dampen response of cells that trigger allergic reactions

    Drugs based on soccer ball–shaped carbon molecules could one day help fight allergies.

    By
  9. 19854

    The article didn’t mention that traditional IQ tests are in one sense “language” tests. The Ravens test doesn’t involve language processing in a typical manner. A person with a language disorder, as an autistic person is assumed to be, would do better on a nonverbal test. That the intelligence of autistic people can be underestimated […]

    By
  10. Hidden Smarts: Abstract thought trumps IQ scores in autism

    Autistic children and adults do better on a nonverbal test of abstract reasoning than they do on standard IQ tests, suggesting that their intelligence has been underestimated.

    By
  11. Health & Medicine

    Bad News for Cats: Cat allergen hits all allergic people

    People allergic to dust mites, mold, grass, and other common irritants—but not to cats—still have greater breathing difficulties when they live around the animals.

    By
  12. Animals

    Faker Crayfish: Males keep bluffing but don’t get caught

    Some male Australian crayfish fake out their rivals by brandishing claws that look impressive but have little strength.

    By