February - 2008 Articles
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Soundbites
01 March 2008
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Review: Big Bone Lick by Stanley Hedeen
01 March 2008
The story of the site that yielded the first fossil evidence of ice-age megafauna in the US
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Feedback
01 March 2008
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Krill flourishing in the Antarctic abyss
01 March 2008
Deep-diving vehicle films the small crustacean at depths of over 3000 metres in a discovery that has amazed scientists
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How the immune system fine-tunes the brain
01 March 2008
The brain isn't supposed to need an immune system. So what are some of its key players doing there, asks Bijal Trivedi
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Editorial: It's the climate, stupid
01 March 2008
If elections are all about the economy, then US voters should pay close attention to what the presidential candidates plan to do about climate change
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Physics porn
01 March 2008
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Celebrating Darwin
01 March 2008
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Physics porn
01 March 2008
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Occam's puzzle pencil
01 March 2008
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Review: The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing, selected by Richard Dawkins
01 March 2008
If you could only ever read one science book, this should probably be it, says Amanda Gefter
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Lunatic cactus
01 March 2008
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Infertile sperm die to protect their brothers
01 March 2008
The mystery of the infertile "parasperm" produced by some flies may have been solved at last
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Chance of Earth surviving Sun's death ruled out
01 March 2008
The most detailed model to date of the Sun's transition to a red giant ends with the Earth being dragged to a fiery demise
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Is it time to form space police?
01 March 2008
The US's destruction of an errant satellite raises the question of whether international guidelines covering such actions need to be made law
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60 Seconds
01 March 2008
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Perspectives: Can apes save Hillary Clinton?
01 March 2008
As the US elections reach crunch point, Hillary Clinton's advisers need all the help they can get – even from other primates, says Frans de Waal
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Review: Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku
01 March 2008
Beyond the fringes of science fiction lie serious questions about what nature deems truly impossible, says Michael Brooks
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Water, water, everywhere
01 March 2008
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Tomato attack
01 March 2008
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Rip off
01 March 2008
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Dream physics
01 March 2008
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Advertising feature: 8 ways to boost your postdoc
01 March 2008
A postdoctoral appointment can be an excellent way to grow your knowledge and get your name out there. Becky Oskin finds out how to make the most of it
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Inherited personality
01 March 2008
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Clean coal and oil sinks
01 March 2008
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Born what way?
01 March 2008
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A modest proposal
01 March 2008
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Diet and delusion
01 March 2008
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Toddlers and fossils
01 March 2008
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Surgeons at play
01 March 2008
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Born what way?
01 March 2008
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Prozac only effective for the severely depressed
01 March 2008
Antidepressants are no better than placebo for many people, finds a study, but the manufacturers say their products work
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Gizmo
01 March 2008
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Four-state material allows 'spintronic' computing
01 March 2008
Superfast computers could be on the way now that we have the ideal "multiferroic" material to build them with
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Crop invasion!
01 March 2008
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For the record
01 March 2008
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Space shuttle Endeavour cleared for March lift-off
29 February 2008
The shuttle is set for lift-off on 11 March on the first of three flights to deliver a huge Japanese research complex to the space station
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X marks the spot in dark matter web
29 February 2008
We can't see the streams of dark matter forming a web across the sky, but unusual cross-shaped galaxies may reveal them
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Souped-up battery prepares to slay the gas guzzlers
29 February 2008
Having overcome a small problem with spontaneous combustion, lithium ion cells are showing their power
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Flexible robotic fin does away with drag
29 February 2008
Mimicking the efficient beating of an agile fish's pectoral fin promises to provide autonomous subs with more dynamic moves
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Airborne bugs may trigger rain to get home
29 February 2008
Bacteria may have evolved proteins that seed precipitation as a way of returning to Earth
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Only zero emissions can prevent a warmer planet
29 February 2008
Merely stabilising greenhouse gas emissions is not enough to prevent raised global temperatures for hundreds of years, say researchers
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Simple blood test could predict your mood
29 February 2008
A newly identified set of genes could make it easier to diagnose and treat illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder
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Greasy hair makes for clean air
29 February 2008
It may be antisocial, but unwashed hair absorbs much more ozone than clean hair and might protect against its damaging effects
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Guilty countries pledge to go carbon neutral
29 February 2008
Founding member countries of the Climate Neutral Network – some of which have a poor record on emissions – promise to slash their CO2 output
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Nearest star's wobbles could reveal Earth's twin
29 February 2008
Another Earth may be orbiting the star next door, and we could find it within a few years by monitoring the star constantly
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Trio of Mars orbiters to monitor Phoenix probe's landing
28 February 2008
NASA and the European Space Agency are now moving three spacecraft into position to watch over the landing of NASA's Phoenix probe in May
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Could meteorite discovery weaken dark energy's case?
28 February 2008
Whiskers of carbon found in meteorites could hold clues to the infant solar system – some say they may also cast doubt on dark energy
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'Protein-friendly' chip offers rapid disease testing
28 February 2008
A device capable of spotting diseases in the tiniest drop of blood or urine has been developed – it is 10 times smaller than existing sensors
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Nattering chimps think like humans
28 February 2008
A key part of the brain used by humans when speaking or signalling is also used by chimpanzees, say primate experts
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Fatal fungus threatens America's bats
28 February 2008
A deadly illness that is sweeping through bat caves of the north-eastern US has puzzled scientists
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Oral sex-related cancer at 30-year high
28 February 2008
The incidence of oral cancer due to a virus transmitted during oral sex has increased steeply since the sexual revolution, say US researchers
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Is cosmic string the radio burst culprit?
28 February 2008
A mysterious radio burst from an empty part of the sky could have come from the cosmic equivalent of a cracking whip
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US elections: Who is the greenest of them all?
28 February 2008
New Scientist assesses the environmental credentials of the three candidates most likely to be the next US president
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Pancreas fix reverses type 1 diabetes
28 February 2008
Insulin-producing cells destroyed by type 1 diabetes have been regenerated in mice, reversing the progression of the disease
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Moon's south pole revealed in 'dramatic' new 3D map
27 February 2008
Radar observations reveal dizzying peaks and deep craters in the region, which could be an ideal place for a future lunar base
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Universe's biggest stars form in the densest gas clouds
27 February 2008
What sets the biggest and brightest stars apart from their dimmer cousins? The density of their parent gas clouds, a new study suggests
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Brain scans may explain teenage tantrums
27 February 2008
Adolescents who easily flare up at their parents show differences in brain structures from those who are more self-controlled
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Comment: No place for target practice
27 February 2008
The destruction by the US of one of its runaway satellites has dangerous consequences for the future use of space, says Laura Grego
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Audio cellphone 'display' lets you tap and talk
27 February 2008
Placing the keypad on the back of a cellphone and building in audio clues to their actions would let users operate the phone as they talk
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Nanotech: The shape of things to come
27 February 2008
What has become of the promised nanotech revolution? A series of crafty devices awaits, says Mason Inman
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Evolution: What missing link?
27 February 2008
Reports of huge gaps in the fossil record have been greatly exaggerated, says geologist Donald Prothero
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Spiders play dead to get laid
27 February 2008
Male nursery web spiders that feign death enjoy more copulations, for longer periods of time
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Mystery of 'Maya blue' dye tied to human sacrifice
27 February 2008
The making of the durable, sky-blue pigment used by the Mayans was part of ritual sacrifices in an ancient city, suggest archaeologists
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Credit card readers 'vulnerable to attack'
27 February 2008
Researchers have demonstrated the attack, which needs only a simple device, on a real "chip and PIN" terminal
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Stem cell breakthrough may reduce cancer risk
27 February 2008
A company claims it has converted adult human cells to a seemingly embryonic state – using methods that are much less likely to trigger cancer
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'Silicon womb' to begin fertility trials
27 February 2008
The IVF device nurtures test-tube embryos inside a real womb and could boost the chances of conception, researchers say
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'Robot arms race' underway, expert warns
27 February 2008
Governments are developing robots capable of killing autonomously without considering legal and moral implications, says UK roboticist
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Global warming twice as lethal as previously assumed
27 February 2008
Increased air pollution could double the deaths caused by global warming, says US study
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'Scolding' software to speed planet hunt
27 February 2008
New software could make the hunt for Earth-like planets more efficient by punishing robotic telescopes that don't perform well
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Asteroid-tracking proposal wins $25,000 prize
26 February 2008
The Planetary Society, a non-profit group, hopes the prize will spur space agencies to develop plans to protect Earth from potential impacts
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Galaxy portrait reveals a blaze of newborn stars
26 February 2008
Newborn stars shine like celestial sparklers in a new portrait of the Triangulum Galaxy – the sharpest ultraviolet galaxy image ever taken
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Wireless worms will follow influenza's example
26 February 2008
It's not just the flu that will thrives aboard a busy flight or within a hectic workplace – computer worms could spread in similar way
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Infertile sperm die protecting their brothers
26 February 2008
The mystery of infertile "parasperm" produced by some flies may have been solved at last
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Embryo defects may give predisposition to diabetes
26 February 2008
Abnormal organ development before birth could predispose certain individuals to autoimmune disease, suggests a study in mice
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Prozac does not work in majority of depressed patients
26 February 2008
The antidepressant, and other drugs in its class, are no better than placebo in treating all but the most severely depressed patients, says a review
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'Amazing' discovery finds krill in Antarctic abyss
26 February 2008
A submersible vehicle has captured surprising images of large numbers of the small crustaceans living at 3500 metres below sea level
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Cats trade efficiency for stealth
26 February 2008
The slinky moves of cats come at a cost – locomotion in felines is much less efficient than in dogs
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Did a collision create Venus as we know it?
26 February 2008
Earth's so-called "evil twin" could have ended up parched and hellishly hot because of a head-to-head planet smash
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It's not fair: Brains may compel teens to tantrum
25 February 2008
Scans reveal differences in the brain structures that control emotions in teens who flare up easily, and those who are more self-controlled
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Exoskeleton shows running, not walking, best on Moon
25 February 2008
Future astronauts should run across the lunar surface to conserve energy, reveal tests of an exoskeleton that mimics a spacesuit's movement
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Nuclear forensics struggling to curb trafficking
25 February 2008
A shrinking pool of expertise and resources threatens to undermine efforts to track smuggled radioactive materials
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Green invention special: Long-life solar cells
25 February 2008
This week's "green" patent applications include a protective coating for solar cells, a way of predicting the health effects of nanotechnology, and a light-fed bioreactor
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Heavy rain can trigger earthquakes
25 February 2008
A deluge of rain can trigger earthquakes in certain landscapes by increasing pressure within underlying rock, suggests a new study
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Fatal brain cancer tamed by gene therapy
25 February 2008
A new form of gene therapy successfully "trains" the immune system to recognise and attack tumours
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Wanted: RAM's help in solving crimes
24 February 2008
Modifying operating systems so that they store the contents of a computer's memory on hard disc would allow police to analyse its contents
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Music special: Five great auditory illusions
24 February 2008
Auditory illusions can help us understand the workings of the brains - listen to five of the most striking examples
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Habitat loss drives decline in amphibians
24 February 2008
Global survey of amphibian numbers suggests that making more habitats open to them is the only way to avert a mass extinction
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Beware words that prompt mental images
24 February 2008
Coming across a word that conjures up a mental image of a specific location may impair our ability to process information presented in that same location
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Physics' funding furore
23 February 2008
Secretive decision-making is to blame for the UK's current funding crisis in physics, according to the Royal Astronomical Society
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Cellphone radiation affects cells in living humans
23 February 2008
First study to show molecular effects of phone radiation on humans reveals protein changes after a one-hour phone call
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China's space reputation is growing fast
23 February 2008
China announces a record number of missions planned this year, as NASA's chief acknowledges that his agency now has a serious competitor
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Music special: Flexible scales and immutable octaves
23 February 2008
Why do we find some tunes melodious and others as discordant as a wailing cat?
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Music special: The illusion of music
23 February 2008
The music you hear may be quite different from the sounds that are actually "out there"
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Crystal sponges capture carbon emissions
23 February 2008
With pores just the right size to trap molecules of carbon dioxide, crystal sponges could help in the battle against global warming
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Gizmo
23 February 2008
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Giant 'frog from hell' hops up in Madagascar
23 February 2008
Fossil finding lends weight to the idea that a land bridge connected Madagascar and South America until late in the age of dinosaurs
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Dioxin exposure is bad for your sperm count
23 February 2008
Chemicals produced from burning waste may be the cause of declining sperm counts
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Music special: Are animals naturally musical?
23 February 2008
Many researchers believe that humans are the only species that truly appreciates music. Can that really be the case?
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Magnetic attraction
23 February 2008
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Jumbochoo
23 February 2008
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Fly catcher
23 February 2008
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Industrious injury
23 February 2008
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Autism treatment
23 February 2008
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Terror networks
23 February 2008
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Stem cell safety
23 February 2008
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Celebrating Darwin
23 February 2008
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Bad news for a reason
23 February 2008
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Reclaim the climate
23 February 2008
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Vaccination illustrated
23 February 2008
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Dream physics
23 February 2008
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Dream physics
23 February 2008
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How to 'see' quantum entanglement
23 February 2008
A standard experiment could allow humans to "see" quantum entanglement without any aids
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Review: Babies by Design
23 February 2008
Arguments against "designer" babies may be flawed, says Arthur Caplan, but shouldn't we be more worried about who could be doing the designing?
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Feedback
23 February 2008
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Alien invasions of marine ecosystems wreak havoc
23 February 2008
The vast majority of the world's coastlines are being damaged by alien species
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Review: How Round is Your Circle?
23 February 2008
Matthew Killeya delights in a book revealing the mathematical problems that are crucial to engineering – and to understanding our everyday world
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Nocturnal alignment
23 February 2008
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60 Seconds
23 February 2008
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Editorial: Modern barbarity
23 February 2008
The idea that torture can be "clean" needs to be refuted
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Music special: Singing in the brain
23 February 2008
Learning to sing changes the way your brain works and it is never too late to start
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Who nose?
23 February 2008
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Quackers
23 February 2008
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Commentary: The future of cities
23 February 2008
We must make sure that efforts to make cities greener don't diminish their powerhouse status, says A.C. Grayling
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Soundbites
23 February 2008
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Do animals think like autistic savants?
23 February 2008
Animals' brains are more like "neurotypical" humans than they are autistic humans
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Interview: The rise of 'clean' torture
23 February 2008
After a career studying how and why people torture prisoners, Darius Rejali tells Michael Bond how torture is thriving in modern democracies
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Rubbery material self-repairs when snapped
23 February 2008
A self-healing synthetic rubber could spell the end of holes in the soles of your shoes and make repairing fan belts and punctured rubber goods a cinch
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The decline, fall and return of the red wolf
23 February 2008
European colonists hunted North America's red wolf to the brink of extinction but all is not yet lost
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Cosmic string: The search continues
23 February 2008
If only we could find a strand, cosmic string would illuminate the early universe and tell us something about the fundamental nature of reality
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Review: In Defence of Food by Michael Pollan
23 February 2008
Published by Allen Lane, £16.99, ISBN 9781846140969
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Mystery hum puzzles geologists
23 February 2008
Geologists have detected a new continuous seismic signal in the Earth, but its cause is anybody's guess
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Court deals blow to online whistleblowers
23 February 2008
A website where whistleblowers can untraceably leak documents has had its chief internet domain shut down by a US district court
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Comment: Why peer review thwarts innovation
23 February 2008
Radical, creative ideas are key to scientific progress, yet today's culture of peer review and funding militate against them, says Donald W. Braben
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Ulysses solar spacecraft freezing to death
22 February 2008
In a twist of cosmic irony, the Sun-studying probe is freezing to death – the 17-year-old spacecraft may have only weeks to live
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Hope dims that Earth will survive Sun's death
22 February 2008
The most detailed model to date of the Sun's transition to a red giant reveals the Earth will be dragged to a fiery death in 7 billion years
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Science entrepreneurs need better business skills
22 February 2008
Find out why an MBA is becoming a valuable qualification for scientists in academia and industry
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The PhD journey: how to choose a good supervisor
22 February 2008
Before you set off into the unknown, remember that your supervisor will be your guide. Matthew Killeya finds out how to make sure you don't get lost
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Flying 'paddleboat' may finally take off
22 February 2008
Could a bizarre-looking aircraft design dating from the late 19th century be the ideal way for small, agile flying robots to get around?
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Giant leap for planet-spotting technique
22 February 2008
The microlensing technique, which uses bent light from a distant star to spot alien worlds, has been used to find a system with more than one planet
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Australia urged to take lead on climate change
22 February 2008
Australia is more vulnerable economically to climate change than most wealthy nations, but could benefit from global efforts to alleviate the problem
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Bird poo camouflage for caterpillars unravelled
22 February 2008
Varying the level of a hormone determines whether young Asian swallowtail caterpillars turn into leaf-like green larvae or remain like bird droppings
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Black hole defends its heavyweight title
22 February 2008
The heaviest black hole formed from a star's collapse weighs 33 Suns – double the previous record, new measurements confirm
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Giant ropes of dark matter found in new sky survey
21 February 2008
Huge dark matter filaments – nearly 3000 times as long as the Milky Way – are warping our view of distant galaxies
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Big Brother bird watching boosts ecology
21 February 2008
Sensors and tags will report the movements of individual seabirds and even weigh them in their own burrows
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Spysat's fuel tank likely destroyed by US missile
21 February 2008
The Pentagon is almost certain it successfully ruptured the hydrazine fuel tank of a broken spy satellite
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US urged to stop using 'dirty bomb' ingredients
21 February 2008
The US government should stop the use of radioactive caesium chloride in medical and research equipment as it can be used to make "dirty bombs"
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Are catnaps as beneficial as actual sleep?
21 February 2008
Power naps of just 5 minutes boosted memory recall in volunteers, suggesting that it is the process of falling asleep that is most important
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Organ transplants without lifelong immunosuppressants
21 February 2008
A blood test could soon help to determine which organ-transplant recipients are ready to come off their immunosuppressant drugs
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US missile hits spy satellite
21 February 2008
A US warship has hit an ailing spy satellite with a ballistic missile in an attempt to destroy its fuel tank, which contained toxic hydrazine
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Rough seas may delay US spysat shot
20 February 2008
A plan to fire a missile at a failed spy satellite from a US Navy ship on Wednesday may be delayed due to rough seas
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How the US will try to shoot down falling spysat
20 February 2008
A ship-launched missile will use heat-seeking technology to aim for the failed spy satellite's fuel tank
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Martian crater records aftermath of Amazon-like flood
20 February 2008
At least on one place on Mars, surface water flowed briefly and violently, flowing for less than a century like the Amazon River
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Smart rubber promises self-mending products
20 February 2008
A new type of rubber binds back together after being snapped or punctured – it could pave the way for self-healing shoes, gloves and other products
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Ultrasound nails location of the elusive G spot
20 February 2008
Gynaecological scans have for the first time revealed clear anatomical differences between women who claim to experience vaginal orgasm and those who don't
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How long before all-out cyberwar?
20 February 2008
What kind of damage could a cyberwar do, and how can we guard against it?
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Music special: The roots of music
20 February 2008
Why is music so important to us, and can engaging with music change the way our brains work, even as adults?
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Airport security prize announced
20 February 2008
Half a million dollars is on offer to anyone who can demonstrate technologies for processing airline passengers more quickly and painlessly
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Space shuttle landing clears way for spysat shot
20 February 2008
The shuttle Atlantis lands safely, clearing the way for an attempt by the US military to shoot down a dead spy satellite
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Orbital Sciences to develop space station cargo ship
20 February 2008
NASA will pay the firm up to $170 million to develop a rocket and spacecraft that could carry cargo to the space station
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Tweaking taps for a constantly warm shower
20 February 2008
A mathematical model shows that hostel showers can be made more stable by coordinating tap adjustments, but they'll always be prone to fluctuations
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Big brains payrolled by Big Tobacco
20 February 2008
Public files reveal a network of economists, academics and philosophers paid by cigarette companies to question grounds for smoking restrictions
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Animals are smart, but not savants
20 February 2008
Intriguing as the idea is, it seems animals do not think like autistic savants, despite the "savant-like" behaviour many show
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More people mean more disease
20 February 2008
A new analysis suggests that human population density is the best predictor of where new diseases will emerge from
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Moon set for last total eclipse until 2010
19 February 2008
The Moon will turn red as it passes through Earth's shadow overnight on Wednesday in the last total lunar eclipse until December 2010
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UV cleaning promises a more accurate kilogram
19 February 2008
A process for cleaning semiconductor wafers could offer a more reliable way to clean the standard kilogram
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'Gecko foot' band-aids could promote healing
19 February 2008
Bandages inspired by geckos' feet would dissolve harmlessly within the body and so could be used to replace stitches and sutures
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Tuna fisheries facing a cod-like collapse
19 February 2008
Tuna populations worldwide are falling dramatically, researchers warn, although creating 'highways' for juvenile fish could help avert disaster
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Prehistoric 'frog from hell' hints at ancient land link
18 February 2008
Beezlebufo, a beach ball-sized frog that lived in Madagascar 80 million years ago, may have munched on young dinosaurs
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Solar cell speeds hydrogen production
18 February 2008
Cars could be fuelled by a device that mimics photosynthesis to split water into oxygen and hydrogen
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Many Earth-like planets may exist in Milky Way
18 February 2008
As many as 60% of our galaxy's Sun-like stars may harbour rocky planets, suggesting habitable worlds might be more common than thought
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Shark populations hit by demand for fin soup
18 February 2008
Many populations have fallen by 95% or more since the 1970s, although efforts to track the predators could help
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Paper cargo surfs chemical waves
18 February 2008
Oscillating chemical waves can propel small objects, providing a new way to transport micromachines or deliver drugs
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New Mississippi delta would limit hurricane damage
18 February 2008
Diverting parts of the river would create up to 1000 square kilometres of new wetlands to act as a storm surge buffer against future hurricanes
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Hard graft, not genes, creates musical genius
18 February 2008
Scanning the brains of flautists and violinists indicates that their exceptional abilities are learned not inherited
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Computer models give an edge for spotting winners
17 February 2008
Success in baseball depends on having the right team, and complex models should boost the prospects of spotting winning players
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Racial stereotyping persists in 'non-racists'
17 February 2008
Unconscious stereotypes lurking within even overtly non-racist Americans appear to be leading them to dehumanise black people, suggest tests
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Urgent action needed to stop nuclear smugglers
16 February 2008
Halting the illicit trade in uranium and plutonium will need decisive action and international cooperation
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Warming seas threaten Antarctic marine life
16 February 2008
A tiny increase in sea temperature around Antarctica could trigger a destructive invasion of marine predators
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Global warming may not have caused sluggish Atlantic
16 February 2008
A model of North Atlantic currents suggests that global warming may not be to blame for its slowing circulation
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On the origins of human spite
16 February 2008
It doesn't take much to make people switch from helping their fellows to actively obstructing them – even at a cost to themselves
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Earliest bats did not 'see' with sound
16 February 2008
The ears of a fossil bat found in rock 52 million years old were not adapted to use echolocation, say experts
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Review: A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion edited by Stephen Hawking
16 February 2008
How better to understand Einstein's physics – and how he thought about physics – than from his own writings?
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Feedback
16 February 2008
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Dirty business
16 February 2008
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Natural rifts may have weakened Antarctic ice shelf
16 February 2008
When the Larsen B ice shelf broke up in March 2002, global warming was only part of the story
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Family tree
16 February 2008
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Creationism encroaches on Darwin's bicentennial
16 February 2008
With the anniversary of Darwin's theory of natural selection falling next year, scientists are responding to the threat of creationism
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Cold patch
16 February 2008
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Black hole event horizon created in the lab
16 February 2008
Scientists claim to have sent lasers through an optical fibre and simulated conditions inside a black hole, a development that could allow previously impossible experiments
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Pollen clues expose fake malaria drug scam
16 February 2008
Blow against counterfeiters sees Chinese sellers of fake artesunates arrested and a distribution network disrupted, but the search for factory goes on
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The power walk that charges your phone
16 February 2008
A leg brace equipped with an electricity generator produces enough energy to power 10 cellphones with little extra effort
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Commentary: Ideas that will govern America
16 February 2008
As a US presidential debate on science becomes increasingly likely, it's time to look at what such a debate could accomplish, says Lawrence Krauss
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Clearing land for biofuel crops just makes things worse
16 February 2008
Using biofuels instead of fossil fuels will do little to cut carbon emissions, and could even increase them, say new reports
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Sweetener may be worse for dieters than sugar
16 February 2008
Lab rats fed artificial sweeteners got fatter than those that ate sugar, hinting that the calories are important for appetite regulation
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Monkey brain scans reveal 'voice region'
16 February 2008
A study of macaques finds that monkey brains are fine-tuned to hear each other's voices, a trait that was thought to be uniquely human
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Comment: Truth is the best defence
16 February 2008
No matter how extreme activists get, scientists must resist the temptation to go beyond the facts, warns Robert Matthews
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Picky phages put to work in bacteria sensor
16 February 2008
Bacteriophages, the viruses that prey on bacteria and are notoriously choosy about which species they attack, are being employed in an electrical sensor
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Robotic fish to spy beneath the waves
16 February 2008
Agile robotic fish that look like the real thing are being developed to investigate threats such as rogue ships – they could also act as realistic fishing lures
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Delivering drugs at the flick of a switch
16 February 2008
Chemical coatings that dissolve when exposed to a voltage could be added to medical implants to release drugs at specific times
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Gizmo
16 February 2008
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Games consoles reveal the supercomputer within
16 February 2008
Reprogram a Wii or a PlayStation and it will perform feats that would be unthinkable on an ordinary PC
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Soundbites
16 February 2008
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Shifty sand
16 February 2008
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Contrary cotton
16 February 2008
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For the record
16 February 2008
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Bugged by bugs
16 February 2008
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Why sandcastles are so easy to build
16 February 2008
A sandcastle holds its shape over a wide range of sand and water combinations due to the collective efforts of liquid bonds between grains
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Cybrid vigour
16 February 2008
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Electric clouds
16 February 2008
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True threats to reason
16 February 2008
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Dragon death pose pictures
16 February 2008
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Forgetfulness is key to a healthy mind
16 February 2008
Longing for a better memory? Be careful what you wish for, says Jessica Marshall
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Respect required too
16 February 2008
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What political difference?
16 February 2008
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Where is the money?
16 February 2008
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Sumatran tigers 'being sold into extinction'
16 February 2008
Wildlife trade monitors issue a wake-up call to the Indonesian authorities over the illegal trade in tiger body parts that is devastating the dwindling population
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Map reveals natural disaster hotspots
16 February 2008
A new map of shows the US counties most vulnerable to a disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake or tornado
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60 Seconds
16 February 2008
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Interview: The man who would prove all studies wrong
16 February 2008
When John Ioannidis published a paper titled Why most published research findings are false, he made a lot of scientists feel uncomfortable, but his conclusion was not as depressing as it sounds
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Filth, glorious filth
16 February 2008
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Space price
16 February 2008
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Wait or walk?
16 February 2008
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Editorial: Racism still runs deep
16 February 2008
The finding that people still unconsciously dehumanise blacks by subtly associating them with apes shows we have some way to go to eliminate racism
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US agency under fire over mercury trading
16 February 2008
The US Environmental Protection Agency's controversial trading scheme for dealing with mercury pollution in the US is ruled illegal
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Review: The Telephone Gambit by Seth Shulman
16 February 2008
The question of who deserves credit for inventing the telephone has long been debated. Jeff Hecht discovers some intriguing new clues
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Review: Life as It Is by William Loomis
16 February 2008
William Loomis considers life and its implications from a cell biologist's viewpoint
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Review: The Blue Death by Robert D Morris
16 February 2008
A veteran of front-line battles in the water industry, Morris tells the fascinating story of waterborne disease – and why we shouldn't ignore it
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Perspectives: My colleagues and other animals
16 February 2008
After 30 years at London's Natural History Museum, palaeontologist Richard Fortey has some great stories about the human fauna who worked there
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Gender-bender chemical probe targets PR firm
16 February 2008
The US government committee examining the safety of a chemical used in plastics has contacted a company with a history of defending controversial chemicals
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Review: The Wraparound Universe by Jean-Pierre Luminet
16 February 2008
This beautiful book on the possibility that our universe is a huge optical illusion will change the way you look at the sky, says Amanda Gefter
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What is pro-life?
16 February 2008
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Asymmetric credit
16 February 2008
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True threats to reason
16 February 2008
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Could preon stars reveal a hidden reality?
16 February 2008
If there is a layer of reality beneath quarks and electrons, tiny, superdense preon stars might help us uncover it. Robert Naeye investigates
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Can science save a masterpiece?
16 February 2008
An enigmatic painting has kept conservators guessing for half a century. Now a roving team aims to reveal its mysteries in just five days, says Jason Palmer
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Uncovering the evolution of the bacterial flagellum
16 February 2008
The elegant complexity of the bacterial flagellum inspires awe, but its humble origins are becoming apparent, says Dan Jones
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World's greatest engineering challenges
15 February 2008
An eminent panel has pulled together a list of the biggest challenges facing engineers this century
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Brain blanket boosts mind control
15 February 2008
Placing a sheet of electrodes over the brain's surface could speed up the development of thought-controlled devices
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NASA urged to focus on sending people to Mars
15 February 2008
The agency has gotten 'bogged down' in its goal of returning crews to the Moon and should focus instead on getting to Mars, space experts argue
-
GPS 'thermometer' could flag up climate change
15 February 2008
Variations in the way GPS satellite signals distort when passing through the atmosphere could be used to monitor changes in Earth's climate
-
Shooting down spysat may endanger space station
15 February 2008
The planned destruction of a disabled US spy satellite will create a cloud of fragments that could strike the International Space Station, say experts
-
Map reveals extent of human damage to oceans
15 February 2008
Only about 4% of world's oceans are still relatively pristine, according to the first-ever global map of human impact upon the oceans
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Human cells could replace animals in toxic testing
15 February 2008
An ambitious plan to overhaul how potentially toxic chemicals are tested could drastically reduce live animal testing, say US government scientists
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Greening US likely to create huge carbon market
15 February 2008
Introducing carbon trading in the US could create a market worth $1 trillion a year by 2020, according to a new report
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Mini Lake Vostok yields clues to ancient life
15 February 2008
A miniature of the world's largest subglacial lake provides insight into the way its waters circulate, and hence on where hidden life might exist
-
'Jury-rigged' missile to destroy falling spysat
14 February 2008
The Pentagon will modify interceptors used in its mid-range missile defense system – software tweaks are needed to hit the high-speed satellite
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Pentagon plans to shoot down disabled spy satellite
14 February 2008
US officials say the move is necessary to prevent a potentially deadly leak of toxic hydrazine used for fuel
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First multiple planet system found by microlensing
14 February 2008
A promising but labour-intensive technique has netted its first multiple-planet system – it can find smaller planets than other methods
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CO2 sponges could scrub emissions clean
14 February 2008
New chemical sponges that efficiently trap carbon dioxide could provide a new weapon in the battle against global warming
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Superfluids could create a 'universe in a bucket'
14 February 2008
Experiments relying on the strange properties of the superfluid helium-3 might explain some of the biggest puzzles in the cosmos
-
Pulsing web gives ailing hearts a boost
14 February 2008
Encasing the heart in a plastic web could help diseased hearts recover or prepare people for transplant surgery
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Friendly 'worms' could spread software fixes
14 February 2008
A new strategy could use software worms to rapidly distribute urgent updates or offer a sneak preview of security threats to come
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Aircraft noise poses a health risk for sleepers
14 February 2008
Noise equivalent to an aircraft passing overhead can raise blood pressure – even when a person is asleep
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Smoking pot may slow MS sufferers' thoughts
14 February 2008
People with multiple sclerosis who smoke marijuana may process thoughts more slowly than people with MS who do not, hints a preliminary study
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Nano-bristle T-shirt to harness your power moves
13 February 2008
A piezoelectric fabric that creates power through the bending of its component threads could harvest usable power for small devices
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'Periodic table' organises zoo of black hole orbits
13 February 2008
The wild paths that objects follow near a black hole have been tamed in a new periodic table – the results could help gravitational wave searches
-
Earliest bats did not 'see' with sound
13 February 2008
The ears of a fossil bat found in rock 52 million years old were not adapted to use echolocation, say experts
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Australian apology may boost Aboriginal health
13 February 2008
The historic apology for the "Stolen Generation" is a vital step in the healing process, say experts – but resources are needed too
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Females love the sweet smell of sexual success
13 February 2008
Lady rats find the smell of a recently road-tested "stud" more alluring than a sex-starved one
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Interview: Using nature to tackle terrorism
13 February 2008
Protection from terrorism is an odd subject for a marine biologist to tackle, but Raphael Sagarin says living things can show us how to manage threats and that trying to eradicate terrorism is a waste of time
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Trade in tiger parts unrelenting in Sumatra
13 February 2008
Tiger parts are still being widely sold in Indonesia despite diminishing numbers of wild animals, warns a new report
-
Russia proposes treaty to ban space weapons
12 February 2008
The treaty, also backed by China, would prohibit the deployment of space weapons and the use or threat of force against satellites and spacecraft
-
Deadline approaching for NASA astronaut hopefuls
12 February 2008
NASA is accepting applications for about a dozen astronaut posts – they will fly on the new Orion spacecraft and could go to the Moon
-
Illegal downloaders could face UK internet ban
12 February 2008
Britain could follow France in cutting off internet access to users who repeatedly download music or films illegally
-
US-China spy scandal highlights troubled past
12 February 2008
An engineer's arrest for stealing US aerospace secrets for China is only the latest in a series of spy scandals involving the two countries
-
CSI: Malaria – medics help bust fake drugs ring
12 February 2008
A crack medical team has hooked up with Interpol and the Chinese security services to disrupt the deadly trade in counterfeit malaria drugs
-
Darwin: Still controversial after all these years
12 February 2008
Nearly 200 years after his birth, some parts of society remain unconvinced by Darwinism and threaten to dampen next year's bicentennial
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Could smart traffic lights stop motorists fuming?
12 February 2008
Traffic lights that wirelessly track vehicles would speed up journeys, reduce fuel consumption and improve urban air quality, say researchers
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Map reveals US disaster hotspots
12 February 2008
A new map shows the US counties most vulnerable to a natural disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake or tornado
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Do nuclear plants boost leukaemia risk?
12 February 2008
Children near nuclear facilities in Germany may be 50% more likely to develop the cancer, say researchers
-
French president calls for global mission to Mars
11 February 2008
Nicolas Sarkozy says he wants to start a dialogue with the world's space powers about a joint Mars exploration programme
-
Tiny perching pterosaur discovered
11 February 2008
The well-preserved fossil of a swallow-sized pterosaur suggests that later giant pterodactyls may have come from smaller, tree-dwelling ancestors
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Blue film delivers drugs at the flick of a switch
11 February 2008
A thin film made with Prussian blue pigment could release precise doses of medication simply by turning on an electric current, say its inventors
-
Organic molecules found on alien world for first time
11 February 2008
The planet is too hot for the molecules to signal life, but the discovery offers hope for understanding future discoveries of Earth-like worlds
-
Crashing software poses flight danger
11 February 2008
All software can go wrong and with aircraft containing ever more of it, can we be sure they will fly safely?
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Astronauts to attach new lab to space station
11 February 2008
Two shuttle Atlantis astronauts set out on a 7-hour spacewalk to attach Europe's first permanent lab to the outpost
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Invention: Flexible micro wings
11 February 2008
This week's patent applications include flexible wings that adapt to sudden gusts of wind, a breath-based diabetes test, and wired wallpaper to simplify fitting of domestic appliances
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Why sandcastles are so easy to build
11 February 2008
A sandcastle holds its shape over a wide range of sand and water combinations due to the bonding effect of water, say researchers
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Mercury compound makes for safer jabs
11 February 2008
Vaccinated children flush one form of mercury preservative from their bodies far faster than others, an Argentinian study shows
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Monkeys know one monkey voice from another
10 February 2008
Macaques seem to have a "voice region" in the brain that helps them tell their own banter from other sounds, and to recognise the voices of other monkeys
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Babies reveal natural gift for numbers
09 February 2008
Three-month-old babies appear to have brain circuits dedicated to noticing quantity, adding weight to the argument that humans possess an innate numerical sense
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Farmland is eating up the world's wildernesses
09 February 2008
More than one third of the Earth's ice-free land area is now being used for farming, according to the most detailed agricultural inventory yet
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Is pig-brain 'mist' linked to mystery ailment?
09 February 2008
Nervous symptoms have developed in workers who blast brains from severed pig heads with compressed air
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Stepping up the search for ET
09 February 2008
The hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence has yielded barely a hint of any alien civilisations, but now the search is stepping up a gear
-
Language evolves in fits and starts
09 February 2008
An evolutionary tree connecting the major language families charts their divergence from one mother tongue into hundreds of different languages
-
'Black strings' may reveal extra dimensions
09 February 2008
A mini black hole stretched around an extra dimension might reveal its presence with a visible flash of light when it snaps
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When pioneering photography filled the theatres
09 February 2008
Eccentric Victorian Eadweard Muybridge thrilled scientists and the public alike with his freeze-frame photography
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Genetic map of black rat reveals its past
09 February 2008
DNA analysis shows that the black rat colonised the world in four great waves, associated with human migration
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'Nerve bridge' bypasses spinal cord injury
09 February 2008
Existing nerves could be rewired to pass around damaged regions of the spine restoring communication with the lower body
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Soundbites
09 February 2008
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Atomic logic: In search of shape-shifting circuits
09 February 2008
Shoot laser beams into frozen gas and shimmering computer circuits could materialise before your eyes. Valerie Jamieson reports
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Holographic memory learns to forget
09 February 2008
By storing 3D data as a temporary build up of charge, holographic memory can now be erased and rewritten, giving hope for 3D movies
-
Is Big Physics peddling science pornography?
09 February 2008
When physicists whisk us into the realms of multiverses and universe-gobbling particles, it's time to ask whether there's something amiss, says Michael Hanlon
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The personality factor: What makes you unique?
09 February 2008
With a better understanding of the neurobiology of personality, it is becoming easier to make the most of who you are
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Review: The Canon by Natalie Angier
09 February 2008
Angier's fine writing provides a breathless tour of the classic ideas of science
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Wall Street joins battle against global warming
09 February 2008
Three of the world's largest banks have agreed to make borrowing money for fossil-fuel power plants more difficult
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60 Seconds
09 February 2008
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Review: The Physics of NASCAR by Diandra Leslie-Pelecky
09 February 2008
Want to know how many ways a stock car can crash? This exploration of the science behind the stock car racing series has the answer
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Feedback
09 February 2008
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Perspectives: Staying strong in the rain
09 February 2008
The life and work of Japanese poet Kenji Miyakawa have a lot to say to the factions rowing over religion, personal faith and science, argues Roger Pulvers
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Commentary: There's no excuse for ignorance
09 February 2008
Scientific illiteracy affects people's ability to make choices in their personal and public lives, says A C Grayling
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The best bits
09 February 2008
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Bigger bag
09 February 2008
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Editorial: Come clean on coal
09 February 2008
Technology for capturing and storing carbon from coal-fired power plants is said to be just around the corner. Yet that corner seems to be getting further away
-
On the tube
09 February 2008
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Editorial: Public health needs lawyers' help
09 February 2008
Lawyers who come across documents that the pharmaceutical companies would rather keep quiet would serve the public well by pressing for their release
-
Iran celebrates 'provocative' space launch
09 February 2008
Iran fires a rocket into space to mark the opening of its new space centre, provoking a variety of opinions on the country's military threat
-
US pulls the plug on flagship clean coal project
09 February 2008
Development of carbon capture and storage technologies has been set back by three to five years as a result of funding cuts, say energy experts
-
Stay-at-home baboon dads give kids a boost
09 February 2008
When male baboons take care of their children, their sons and daughters enjoy a reproductive head start by maturing quicker
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Alzheimer's plaques form 'within a day'
09 February 2008
Imaging experiments on live mice have shown that the plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease form much faster than previously thought
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Mass extinctions: The microbes strike back
09 February 2008
Forget asteroid Armageddon from the skies – the biggest danger to life is a hostile takeover by bacteria, says Peter Ward
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Physics wants respect
09 February 2008
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Evidence of bias
09 February 2008
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Filthy healthy
09 February 2008
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Animal reality TV
09 February 2008
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Beyond reason
09 February 2008
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Beyond biofuel
09 February 2008
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Nuclear waste
09 February 2008
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Review: The Hot Topic by Gabrielle Walker and David King
09 February 2008
Finally, there's a book that offers a sane and balanced approach to dealing with climate change, says Chris Mooney
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Diet and delusion
09 February 2008
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Crops aren't invasive
09 February 2008
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Beat generation
09 February 2008
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Hydrogen risks
09 February 2008
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2008: Does time travel start here?
09 February 2008
Experiments at the world's most powerful atom-smasher could lead to visitors from the future, says Michael Brooks
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Gizmo
09 February 2008
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Tech titans battle over Yahoo acquisition
09 February 2008
Microsoft says a Yahoo acquisition is the only way to create a viable Google competitor, but does the move hand Microsoft too much power?
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Blood beef
09 February 2008
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Arbitrary puzzle
09 February 2008
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For the record
09 February 2008
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Diet and delusion
09 February 2008
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Language death
09 February 2008
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Dites-vous «Yo!»?
09 February 2008
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Star eats star and builds planets from the crumbs
08 February 2008
A star that appears too old to harbour a dusty disc may have swallowed its companion, burping out a planet-forming cloud
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Robotic glider feeds off ocean temperatures
08 February 2008
An autonomous glider that harvests heat energy from the sea to propel itself is being used to explore the undersea environment
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Pump iron to lose the pounds
08 February 2008
Mice that lost weight purely through putting on muscle challenge the widely held idea that endurance training is the best method for slimming down
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Conservation laws threaten rare orchids
08 February 2008
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species limits the study of orchids, threatening their future, say botanists
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Stem cell transplant 'cures' diabetic mice
08 February 2008
Insulin-producing cells from human embryos have treated animals with type 1 diabetes – raising hopes for a human treatment
-
Report leaves Scaled Composites blast a mystery
07 February 2008
A new government report adds details about the fatal 2007 test of SpaceShipTwo equipment, but does not identify the cause of the blast
-
Shuttle launches with European space station lab
07 February 2008
The shuttle Atlantis blasts off on a mission to deliver Europe's first permanent space lab to the International Space Station
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Biofuels emissions may be 'worse than petrol'
07 February 2008
When changing land use is taken into account, biofuels could actually increase greenhouse gas emissions, say two major new studies
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Knee device makes phone charging a walk in the park
07 February 2008
A knee-mounted dynamo that generates electricity from a person's stepping action brings new meaning to the phrase "power walk"
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No major hurdles to upgrade Atlas V rockets for people
07 February 2008
The rockets, normally used for satellite launches, could be altered for human missions without too much difficulty, experts say
-
Evidence of fossil bugs found in volcanic bubble
07 February 2008
Mineral filaments lining the inside of solidified volcanic bubbles point to new niche for microbial life, say scientists
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Web tool predicts election results and stock prices
07 February 2008
By measuring how sites that relate to a particular term are linked, software may be able to predict the future
-
Hair test cuts breast cancer errors
07 February 2008
A test that bombards 20 strands of cut hair with X-rays from a synchrotron particle accelerator can identify people with breast cancer
-
'Astronomical unit' may need to be redefined
06 February 2008
The standard yardstick to measure distances in the solar system will become increasingly imprecise as the Sun radiates away its energy
-
Rewritable holograms promise 3D displays
06 February 2008
A quicker way to record, erase and rewrite holograms might soon free 3D movie viewers from the tyranny of cardboard spectacles
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Did GSK trial data mask Paxil suicide risk?
06 February 2008
Court documents suggest that an inappropriate use of trial data masked an increased suicide risk from the antidepressant paroxetine for 15 years. GlaxoSmithKline denies any wrongdoing
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Super-size me: Alligators reveal digestive trick
06 February 2008
Just how alligators manage to digest such massive meals may be explained by the way they shunt blood to their stomachs after a feast
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Alien species named and shamed on European list
06 February 2008
Metre-wide jellyfish and poisonous fish are among Europe's least wanted, in the first-ever comprehensive database of the continent's invasive species
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Shuttle Atlantis ready for Thursday launch
06 February 2008
NASA has cleared the shuttle for lift-off, though rain and clouds threaten to postpone the launch
-
Female reptile spreads labour over nine days
06 February 2008
Not many females would choose to make labour last longer than necessary, but skinks can delay the process, waiting for the best time to give birth
-
Galaxy without dark matter puzzles astronomers
06 February 2008
Dark matter is supposed to be spread throughout the universe, but a spiral galaxy called NGC 4736 seems to be empty of the stuff
-
Telescope to test Antarctica's claim to 'best sky'
05 February 2008
A robotic observatory has been installed on a high-altitude plateau near the South Pole – it will test if the site offers the best seeing in the world
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Smoking pot rots your gums
05 February 2008
Smoking cannabis regularly may lead to gum disease in people in their early thirties and may contribute to chronic illness later in life
-
Exploding black holes could expose hidden dimensions
05 February 2008
Cosmic flares shot from exploding black holes could provide long-sought proof of extra spatial dimensions, new calculations suggest
-
Remote-control DNA 'pistons' could power tiny robots
05 February 2008
Nanoscopic DNA pyramids that change shape with different chemical signals could potentially drive DNA robots, or aid precision drug delivery
-
Tsunami threat hangs over southern Italy
05 February 2008
Destructive tsunamis occur once a century in the Mediterranean Sea and southern Italy could be right in the firing line
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Cellphones could sniff out 'dirty' bombs
05 February 2008
Radiation readings from thousands of phones, plus their location, could be combined to produce a "radiation map" of a city
-
NASA calls for ambitious outer solar system mission
05 February 2008
In its 2009 budget proposal to Congress, the agency commits to a $3 billion-class mission to the solar system's icy moons
-
US budget proposal offers hope for climate research
05 February 2008
The White House's proposed 2009 budget restores some previously cut climate instruments and even includes money for new satellites
-
Helpful baboon dads boost offsprings' success
04 February 2008
Young baboons, especially daughters, who get help from their fathers enjoy a reproductive head-start by maturing quicker, a study suggests
-
NASA beams Beatles song into space
04 February 2008
Forty years after The Beatles recorded their peace anthem 'Across the Universe', NASA is transmitting it towards the North Star
-
Iran launches rocket for homegrown satellite
04 February 2008
The rocket is designed to loft a research satellite into orbit in 2009, but some say the launch was a response to a recent Israeli missile test
-
Smart pillbox joins the fight against TB
04 February 2008
By reminding patients when to take their antibiotics, and recording when they do, the "uBox" will help identify patients who don't take their medicine
-
Invention: Heartbeat radar
04 February 2008
This week's patent applications include road-speed radar to monitor heartbeats, a breathable suit that blocks chemicals in an instant, and a way to vibrate yourself thin
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Peering beneath glacier might explain speedier slide
04 February 2008
Fresh concerns over the acceleration of glaciers in Antarctica is spurring a move to find out what is happening beneath the ice
-
Monkeys tune in to your way of thinking
03 February 2008
Tests show that macaques recognise the intentions of others in goal-related tasks and can predict how others will act, say scientists
-
Bug slime's surprising effect on disease
03 February 2008
Slime-producing strategies adopted by bacteria inside our bodies seem to affect the nature of the diseases they cause
-
Wi-Fi 'co-op' could provide internet for all
02 February 2008
Soon, borrowing a stranger's Wi-Fi could become the norm thanks to a system that allows people to share their connections with strangers securely and at no extra cost
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Forget the plane, take the intercity spaceship
02 February 2008
Virgin Galactic says its first tourist space vehicle could also be used to launch satellites and make super-fast intercity trips
-
Algae hold the key to the biofuel conundrum
02 February 2008
Growing algae in ponds could supply all of the US transportation fuel needs using a tiny amount of total agricultural land
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For the record
02 February 2008
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Spy plane problems
02 February 2008
-
How to grow a glacier
02 February 2008
The ancient skill of glacier growing is said to guarantee year-round water for mountain villages. Ed Douglas is intrigued
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All shall have nouns
02 February 2008
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Super-efficient car to green up the highway
02 February 2008
Creating a car capable of 100 miles per gallon is not as difficult as you might think. Is this the end of the road for the gas guzzler?
-
Traffic pickle
02 February 2008
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Perspectives: The changing face of terrorism
02 February 2008
Until governments understand the changing nature of terrorist networks like Al-Qaida, efforts to combat them are doomed to fail, argues Marc Sageman
-
Commentary: Time to nail inflation
02 February 2008
NASA isn't going ahead with an experiment to look for signals of cosmic inflation, but that shouldn't discourage future attempts, says Lawrence Krauss
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Review: What Bugged the Dinosaurs? by George Poinar Jr. and Roberta Poinar
02 February 2008
George and Roberta Poinar explore the interactions between dinosaurs and insects
-
Feedback
02 February 2008
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Review: Irreligion by John Allen Paulos
02 February 2008
The mathematician wades through the classical arguments for the existence of God and systematically refutes them
-
Sand islands
02 February 2008
-
Tata, cars
02 February 2008
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Smoking gun
02 February 2008
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Reclaim the streets
02 February 2008
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Hidden threat
02 February 2008
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Are political leanings all in the genes?
02 February 2008
Trying to persuade others to your way of thinking may be futile – political positions could be substantially determined by biology, says Jim Giles
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Yodel-ay-Euskara!
02 February 2008
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Moths of war
02 February 2008
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Drug not banned
02 February 2008
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Beast bugging
02 February 2008
-
Misleading maths
02 February 2008
-
Spellchucker
02 February 2008
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Lucid rules
02 February 2008
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One-world theory
02 February 2008
-
Flights of fancy
02 February 2008
-
Bomb blasts affect soldiers' mental health
02 February 2008
Soldiers suffering concussion as a result of shock waves from explosions are more likely to suffer major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder
-
Let us celebrate Darwin
02 February 2008
Religious leaders should get together with scientists to explain that there is no inherent conflict between evolution and faith, says Michael Zimmerman
-
Chameleons show their flashy side
02 February 2008
Far from changing colour to blend in, chameleons use their colours to draw attention to themselves
-
Gizmo
02 February 2008
-
Spooky attraction of DNA from a distance
02 February 2008
Identical stretches of double-stranded DNA seek each other out in solution, suggesting a new stage in the repair and evolutionary shuffling of DNA
-
The circadian clock ticking in your skin
02 February 2008
An internal clock hidden in your skin cells could reveal whether your body clock is out of sync with your lifestyle
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Comet surprises astronomers with its rocky makeup
02 February 2008
Samples taken during NASA's Stardust mission show that Comet Wild 2 is rocky like an asteroid, not "fluffy" as expected
-
Interview: The Indiana Jones of neurology
02 February 2008
Allen Counter is a scientific explorer and Harvard professor whose research has taken him from the Amazon rainforests to the Arctic Circle. Now Hollywood is planning a biopic about his life starring Will Smith. He talks to Curtis Abraham
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Merging photos could improve security screening
02 February 2008
Images made by merging several photos of the same face are easier for computer software to recognise than ordinary snapshots
-
Gets whose goat?
02 February 2008
-
Soundbites
02 February 2008
-
Editorial: UK physics cuts bite deep
02 February 2008
A month after UK physicists heard that £80 million has been wiped off their budgets, the full extent of the damage is starting to become apparent
-
Editorial: Getting ready for same-sex reproduction
02 February 2008
Male eggs and female sperm could one day allow gay and lesbian couples to have biological children, but the issues need to be fully debated
-
Twisted logic
02 February 2008
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Are male eggs and female sperm on the horizon?
02 February 2008
Biologists are developing the technology that could enable gay and lesbian couples to parent their own biological children
-
60 Seconds
02 February 2008
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Have humans created a new geological epoch?
02 February 2008
A group of geologists say our time on earth should be officially recognised in the rock record
-
Human sniffles kill endangered chimps
02 February 2008
Tourists and scientists have inadvertently killed wild chimpanzees by passing on illnesses - is it right to intervene with antibiotics?
-
NASA to announce new commercial space partner
01 February 2008
NASA's decision to cut ties with spaceship developer Rocketplane Kistler is officially upheld, clearing the way for a new partnership
-
Vertical treadmill to improve workouts in space
01 February 2008
NASA will test a new vertical treadmill on volunteers spending up to three months in bed – the results could streamline exercise regimes in space
-
Languages evolve in sudden leaps, not creeps
01 February 2008
The finding challenges the slow-and-steady model held by many linguists and matches evidence that genetic evolution follows a similar path
-
Meteorites: How big is safe?
01 February 2008
A meteorite impact in Peru raises disturbing questions about our vulnerability to such threats from space – and sheds light on controversial impacts in human history
-
Crystal coat warms up LED light
01 February 2008
A fine-tuned nanocrystal layer makes energy-efficient LED light less harsh, and more suited to indoor lighting
-
Rat genes shed light on ancient human migrations
01 February 2008
The black rat's genetic make-up reveals its age-old relationship with humans – and may explain anomalies in the way it has spread diseases
-
Eye-tracking game hides baddies in plain view
01 February 2008
Following players' eye movements can make computer games wickedly difficult by placing enemies where you are least likely to spot them
-
Voices of autism 'silenced' by charity
01 February 2008
A bitter dispute has broken out between people with autism and a charity that aims to help them
-
Conjoined space telescopes could see alien worlds
01 February 2008
Two telescopes attached together in space could see planets at a fraction of the cost of NASA's indefinitely delayed Terrestrial Planet Finder
-
Rabbit-sized 'shrew' discovered
01 February 2008
An accidental discovery in an exceptional African biodiversity hotspot has yielded a new species of mammal – an unusually large elephant shrew