Uncategorized
- Earth
Breakups maintain barchan dune fields, somehow
Two new theories try to explain how the crescent-shaped sand mountains persist.
- Life
Bats can carry MERS
DNA of a deadly respiratory virus has been found in a Saudi Arabian mammal.
- Earth
Millions in China at risk of exposure to arsenic-tainted water
Simulation shows possibly contaminated areas and predicts populations at risk.
- Astronomy
‘Space beads’ push back origins of iron working
Ancient Egyptians used advanced techniques to make beads out of 'metal from the sky.'
- Astronomy
To determine stars’ physical traits, Kepler sees the light
Measuring stellar brightness can yield useful estimates of stars' size and evolutionary stage, and help in the hunt for planets.
- Life
Natural antifreeze prevents frogsicles
Sugar and other chemicals keep Alaskan frogs from freezing completely.
- Animals
For sheep horns, bigger is not better
Trade-offs between studliness and survival keep less endowed sheep in the mix.
- Life
Bacteria can cause pain on their own
Microbes caused discomfort in mice by activating nerves, not the immune system.
- Animals
Birds know road speed limits
Crows, house sparrows and other species judge when to flee the asphalt by average traffic rates rather than an oncoming car's speed.
- Psychology
Blood marker may predict suicide
People who killed themselves had higher levels of a gene involved in cell death.
- Astronomy
Pictures of young star show unusual outbursts
Ejections from stellar newborn move faster and in different directions than astronomers thought.
- Ecosystems
Aging European forests full to the brim with carbon
Trees' capacity to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is dwindling.
