Science News Magazine: June 23, 2018

More Stories from the June 23, 2018 issue

1. 

   Psychology

   Gun owner or not, Americans agree on many ways to limit gun violence

   A new survey suggests that gun owners support many potential gun-control policies — now research on their efficacy needs to catch up.

   By Erika Engelhaupt

2. 

   Astronomy

   Maverick asteroid might be an immigrant from outside the solar system

   A space rock’s backward orbit could be a hint of unusual origins.

   By Emily Conover

3. 

   Animals

   A caterpillar outwits corn defenses by gorging on fattening ‘junk’ food

   The crop plants defend themselves with zombie-maker wasps, but one pest has a desperate work-around.

   By Susan Milius

4. 

   Genetics

   Genetic sleuthing again IDs a murder suspect in a cold case

   The arrest of a second murder suspect with the help of genetic genealogy raises worries that suspicionless searches may be next.

   By Tina Hesman Saey

5. 

   Tech

   Fleets of self-driving taxis could be choreographed to cut traffic

   Hive-minded self-driving cars could curb traffic congestion and vehicle pollution.

   By Maria Temming

6. 

   Climate

   As CO₂ increases, rice loses B vitamins and other nutrients

   Field experiments add vitamins to list of nutrients at risk from a changing atmosphere.

   By Susan Milius

7. 

   Astronomy

   Plasma rain in the sun’s atmosphere falls in surprising places

   Scientists found rain in the sun’s corona where they didn’t expect it, which could help solve the mystery of why the corona is so hot.

   By Lisa Grossman

8. 

   Animals

   Pregnant bonobos get a little delivery help from their friends

   As in humans, female bonobos become helpers for mothers giving birth, data from captive apes suggest.

   By Bruce Bower

9. 

   Paleontology

   How birds may have escaped the dino-killing asteroid impact

   A tree-loving lifestyle became a risk for ancient birds in a world-changing catastrophe.

   By Susan Milius

10. 

    Particle Physics

    Dark matter particles elude scientists in the biggest search of its kind

    The XENON1T experiment saw no signs of hypothetical dark matter particles called WIMPs.

    By Emily Conover

11. 

    Health & Medicine

    Keeping people within U.S. blood pressure guidelines saves lives

    Big reductions in heart attacks, strokes and deaths may be possible under 2017 blood pressure guidelines.

    By Aimee Cunningham

12. 

    Climate

    The first Americans could have taken a coastal route into the New World

    Alaskan glaciers retreated in time for ancient coastal entries of the first Americans.

    By Bruce Bower

13. 

    Health & Medicine

    At-home telomere testing is not a reliable marker of aging, researcher says

    Telomere testing for consumers offers a poor measure of “biological age,” says Johns Hopkins oncologist Mary Armanios.

    By Cori Vanchieri

14. 

    Health & Medicine

    Experts advise: Start colorectal screening at 45, not 50

    The American Cancer Society recommends that colorectal screening begin at the age of 45 for average-risk individuals.

    By Aimee Cunningham

15. 

    Planetary Science

    Never-before-seen dunes on Pluto spotted in New Horizons images

    Images from the New Horizons spacecraft reveal dunes on Pluto — but the sand-sized grains must have had an unusual boost to get moving.

    By Lisa Grossman

16. 

    Particle Physics

    Mysterious neutrino surplus hints at the existence of new particles

    Neutrinos show up in greater numbers than expected in an experiment, possibly bolstering the idea of a fourth type of the particle.

    By Emily Conover

17. 

    Astronomy

    In 1968, scientists thought they were close to detecting gravity waves

    Despite an unverified discovery in 1968, spacetime ripples remained elusive for nearly 50 years.

    By Cassie Martin