In the Oct. 14 SN: 2017’s scientists to watch, duel over a real-life Brienne of Tarth, the origin of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays, long-lasting spheres of color, watermelon snow’s downside, support for the Unruh effect, polite robots and more.

October 14, 2017

COVER: Sam Falconer; RIGHT: STEVEN SAFFI

Archives

Feature

The SN 10: Meet the scientists ready to transform their fields

In this year’s SN 10, meet early- and mid-career research stars who are coming up with and testing new ideas in astronomy, archaeology, artificial intelligence and more.

6 months ago

Science & Society,

Scientists to Watch
Science Visualized

Tiny ‘supraballs’ put a new spin on creating long-lasting color

Nano-sized balls of melanin and silica generate durable colors.

7 months ago

Materials
News

Skeleton ignites debate over whether women were Viking warriors

Scientists spar over a 10th century woman who may have had serious fight in her.

7 months ago

Anthropology,
Archaeology
Teaser

The rise of respectful robots

A new roaming robot knows how to keep out from underfoot.

6 months ago

Robotics,
Artificial Intelligence,
Technology
Mystery Solved

How a meteor shower helped solve the case of the vanishing comet

A missing comet has been linked to a long-lost meteor shower, helping astronomers recover both.

6 months ago

Astronomy,
Planetary Science
For Daily Use

Six in seven contact lens wearers take unnecessary risks with their eyes

A lot of contact wearers are not practicing healthy habits with their lenses, a national survey finds.

6 months ago

Biomedicine,
Science & Society
News

Gene variant linked to Alzheimer’s disease is a triple threat

A genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease works on multiple aspects of the disease, researchers report.

6 months ago

Neuroscience,
Genetics,
Cells
News in Brief

Plate tectonics started at least 3.5 billion years ago

Analyses of titanium in rock suggest plate tectonics began 500 million years earlier than thought.

7 months ago

Earth
The Science Life

A researcher reveals the shocking truth about electric eels

A biologist records the electrical current traveling through his arm during an electric eel’s defensive leap attack.

7 months ago

Animals,
Neuroscience
News

Ultrahigh energy cosmic rays come from outside the Milky Way

The biggest cosmic ray haul ever points toward other galaxies as the source of the rays, not our own.

7 months ago

Astronomy,
Particle Physics