Uncategorized
- Humans
Letters from the September 9, 2006, issue of Science News
Brother bother If having biological older brothers correlates to homosexuality (“Gay Males’ Sibling Link: Men’s homosexuality tied to having older brothers,” SN: 7/1/06, p. 3), then we would expect that in the past, when families were larger, there would be a greater proportion of homosexuals. Is there any evidence for this? Rick NorwoodMountain Home, Tenn. […]
By Science News - Earth
Plastics agent worsens skin allergies
Low doses of one of the most commonly used softeners in plastics can aggravate dust-mite allergy.
By Janet Raloff -
Sleep disorder tied to brain ills in kids
Researchers have linked a severe form of sleep apnea in children to brain irregularities that may contribute to learning problems.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Herpes simplex viruses dip in prevalence
Two viruses that cause genital herpes decreased in prevalence in the United States during the past 2 decades.
By Ben Harder - Health & Medicine
Old drug can stop clots as well as newer drug does
A decades-old form of the anticlotting drug heparin is as safe, as effective, and potentially as convenient to use as recent derivatives that are many times more expensive.
By Ben Harder - Earth
Are pollutants shrinking polar bear gonads?
New research links persistent pollutants with reproductive impairment in polar bears.
By Janet Raloff -
High-protein diets boost hunger-taming hormone
Eating protein appears to boost blood concentrations of a hormone recently found to restrict appetite.
- Physics
Radiant plasma may combat cavities
Dentists may someday disinfect teeth with a newly demonstrated, handheld stylus that exudes glowing plasma deadly to cavity-causing bacteria.
By Peter Weiss -
Stem cells sense stiffness
Stem cells can sense the texture of whatever medium they're growing on and use this quality to guide their fate.
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- Humans
From the August 29, 1936, issue
Fighting forest fires with science, a young Milky Way, and atom-smashing cosmic rays.
By Science News - Ecosystems
Madagascar’s Fantastic Forests
Produced by WBUR in Boston to accompany a special program on Madagascar, this award-winning Web site offers a remarkably detailed look at life on this island, with a focus on the struggle to preserve Earth’s diversity of life. It includes photo galleries, audio clips, videos, maps, and much more. Go to: http://www.wbur.org/special/madagascar/
By Science News