Uncategorized
- Physics
Superfast laser pulses could pave way for beam weapons
Short light bursts turn columns of air into energy conduits.
By Andrew Grant - Health & Medicine
Casinos may reduce poverty, obesity in Native American communities
A modest reduction in overweight youth was observed after the addition of slot machines.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Meaty diets may raise risk of dying young
Reducing protein consumption can lengthen life and improve health, studies in mice and people suggest.
- Health & Medicine
HPV vaccination proves its worth in Australia
A study in Australia finds the shots are already reducing cases of abnormal cervical lesions.
By Nathan Seppa - Astronomy
Exoplanet water seen in new light
Astronomers used a new technique to characterize the atmosphere of a gas giant exoplanet.
- Animals
Peacocks sometimes fake mating hoots
Peacocks may have learned a benefit of deception by sounding their copulation calls even when no peahens are in sight.
By Susan Milius - Neuroscience
Brain uses decision-making region to tell blue from green
Language and early visual areas of the brain are not crucial for distinguishing colors, an fMRI study suggests.
- Genetics
Neanderthal Man
The hottest thing in human evolution studies right now is DNA extracted from hominid fossils. Svante Pääbo, the dean of ancient-gene research, explains in Neandertal Man how it all began when he bought a piece of calf liver at a supermarket in 1981.
By Bruce Bower - Microbes
Power-packed bacterial spores generate electricity
With mighty bursts of rehydration, bacterial spores offer a new source of renewable energy.
By Beth Mole - Physics
Laser tweezers manipulate objects just 50 nanometers wide
Technique could allow scientists to move proteins, viruses and nanomaterials.
By Andrew Grant - Agriculture
Where antibiotics go
Of the 51 tons of antibiotics consumed every day in the United States, about 80 percent goes into animal production.
- Health & Medicine
Bereavement can take toll on health, not just emotions
In the month after a partner dies, spouse more prone to heart attack, stroke.
By Nathan Seppa