Uncategorized
- Animals
The secret behind the alligator’s toothy smile
Dental stem cells enable the reptile to grow new teeth every year, researchers find.
By Meghan Rosen - Chemistry
Flame quencher offers less toxic approach to fighting fire
New coating could protect furniture without causing health concerns.
- Animals
Cannibalistic spiders may just be choosy guys
Male Micaria sociabilis may choose to have older female for lunch, not sex.
By Susan Milius - Humans
Eruption early in human prehistory may have been more whimper than bang
If Hollywood’s right, the apocalypse will be brutal. Aliens, nuclear war, zombies, plague, enslavement by supersmart robots — none of them are good endings. Some archaeologists, however, believe an apocalypse has already come and gone. About 75,000 years ago, they say, a monster volcanic eruption nearly wiped out humankind, leaving behind only a few thousand people to […]
By Erin Wayman - Climate
Carbon dioxide in atmosphere reaches landmark level
At 400 parts per million, greenhouse gas concentration is now higher than it has been for millions of years.
By Erin Wayman - Earth
Japan’s 2011 earthquake upped Tokyo’s risk
Chance more than doubled that capital city will soon experience big temblor, researchers calculate.
By Erin Wayman - Life
Exploration forges differences in identical twins
Mice with the same genes and surroundings diverged in brain development depending on how much they moved around their environment.
- Space
Moon’s water may have earthly origins
Ratio of hydrogen to deuterium suggests molecule on both orbs has a common source.
By Andrew Grant - Earth
The Arctic was once warmer, covered by trees
Pliocene epoch featured greenhouse gas levels similar to today's but with higher average temperatures.
By Erin Wayman - Animals
Malaria mosquito dosed with disease-fighting bacteria
After thousands of tries, lab gets parasite-carrying insect to catch Wolbachia.
By Susan Milius - Life
Gut bacteria adapt to life in bladder
E. coli moving between systems may cause urinary tract infections.
By Meghan Rosen - Psychology
Brain training technique gets a critique
In a new study, a popular style of memory workout leaves reasoning and mental agility flat.
By Bruce Bower