May - 2008 Articles
-
Mice ascend Everest to combat doping in sport
31 May 2008
Researchers are looking for biochemical markers of the body's response to high altitude, as they could provide a test for gene doping by athletes
-
Tropical forests axed in favour of palm oil
31 May 2008
Over half of Indonesia and Malaysia's palm oil plantations came at the expense of forests, despite the countries' claims to the contrary
-
Birth pangs for the 'semantic web'
31 May 2008
Tim Berners-Lee's vision of an internet where all types of content are seamlessly combined could be on the horizon, but developers remain sceptical
-
Should all Arctic species be red-listed?
30 May 2008
Habitats are changing so rapidly in the face of global warming that some conservationists argue many thousands more species should be listed as "endangered"
-
Inflatable robots could explore Mars
30 May 2008
Forget giant rovers – a fleet of inflatable, spherical robots could one day roam the Red Planet
-
Immune cells 'vacuum up' Alzheimer's clumps
30 May 2008
Blocking a gene in mice allows white blood cells to enter the brain and destroy the amyloid plaques that cause Alzheimer's, suggesting a new approach to the disease
-
Nanotech 'tissue' loves oil spills, hates water
30 May 2008
A mesh of nanowires can soak up 20 times its own weight in oil without sucking up any water – it could lead to new ways to clean up polluted seas
-
Interview: Why our brains are so clumsy
30 May 2008
If evolution is so powerful, why did the human brain end up so flawed, asks psychologist Gary Marcus
-
Exploding the myth that boys are better at maths
30 May 2008
Reports of boys doing better in mathematics are often put down to superior ability, but a study finds no difference where the sexes are treated equally
-
Delaying data allows quantum secrecy on the cheap
30 May 2008
Halving the number of costly photon detectors required to swap secure keys could help quantum encryption become commercially viable
-
Patagonian volcano may be about to blow its top
30 May 2008
A huge dome-removing explosion may be imminent as pressure builds beneath the Chaitén volcano in Chile, say experts
-
Altruism needs selfish genes to evolve after all
30 May 2008
The sexual behaviour of queen ants, bees and wasps shows that close genetic kinship is key to the evolution of sterile worker castes
-
US particle physics spared the axe
30 May 2008
Fears that the US would be left without a top-notch particle accelerator have been allayed, at least for now, by a new report
-
Stress increases risk of stillbirth
30 May 2008
Studies in monkeys suggest that stress hormones like adrenaline might reduce blood flow to the placenta, restricting oxygen supply to the fetus
-
'Hot' photons cast dark energy into the light
30 May 2008
As dark energy accelerates the expansion of space, it causes signature spots in the radiation left over from the big bang
-
Locust swarms are driven by salt and cannibalism
30 May 2008
It's not just the search for greenery that drives locusts to form ravaging swarms. Sally Palmer discovers a much more gruesome motive
-
Have we begun to crack the brain's code?
30 May 2008
A computer program that can accurately predict how brains respond to any noun may help develop more human-like artificial intelligence
-
Common bacteria linked to cot death
30 May 2008
There is now hard evidence that two common species of bacteria are more prevalent in babies who fall prey to sudden infant death syndrome
-
Mars lander to inspect itself with robotic arm
29 May 2008
Phoenix will use its newly freed arm to look under its belly – it will check that its feet are planted firmly on the Martian soil
-
Space shuttle cleared for toilet repair mission
29 May 2008
The shuttle Discovery is set to launch on Saturday – it will bring a new Japanese lab and a critical toilet pump to the International Space Station
-
Was Mars too salty for life?
29 May 2008
If life ever got going on Mars, it may have been exterminated 4 billion years ago by a buildup of salt, a mineral analysis suggests
-
Ancient hair suggests multiple migrations into Americas
29 May 2008
An ancient tuft of human hair suggests that a tribe of humans trekked from Asia to settle in the Arctic 3500 years ago – and then vanished
-
In-flight surveillance could foil terrorists in the sky
29 May 2008
Cameras built into every seat of passenger aircraft let software spot suspect behaviour before acts of terrorism or "air rage", say researchers
-
Human remains explain Stonehenge mystery
29 May 2008
Radiocarbon dating of human cremations suggests that, in its earliest phase, the monument was primarily a place of burial
-
Five theories about Stonehenge
29 May 2008
As the latest theory about the function of Stonehenge is published, we look at some of the other ideas that have been put forward for the monument's purpose
-
Mars lander begins to deploy crucial robotic arm
29 May 2008
The Phoenix probe's arm should begin digging into the Martian surface next week, delivering samples of soil and ice to the lander for analysis
-
Over 100 countries agree to ban cluster bombs
29 May 2008
The ban does not include the US and other military powers, but may discourage use of the bombs that still litter some affected countries
-
Motion-capture system adds costume to the drama
29 May 2008
Movie special-effects software that does away with restricting body markers can capture the ruffles of loose clothing as the subject moves
-
Thoughts of death make us eat more cookies
29 May 2008
Going shopping and eating may allow consumers with low self-esteem to escape their fear of death
-
Buckets to blame for wartime temperature blip
28 May 2008
Climate scientists hope to explain an apparent dip in global temperatures in 1945 by comparing the way measurements were made by US and UK ships
-
That gut feeling: How friendly bugs protect us
28 May 2008
As well as fighting undesirable or dangerous organisms, "good bacteria" in our guts could reduce inflammation and protect against colitis
-
Robo-monkeys use brain power to grab a bite
28 May 2008
In the first successful experiment of its kind, two monkeys have used a brain-controlled robotic arm to feed themselves
-
Radio link with Mars lander restored
28 May 2008
A communication problem for NASA's Phoenix lander has been resolved, but it's still not clear what caused the glitch
-
Fastest spinning asteroid spied by amateur stargazer
28 May 2008
An amateur astronomer observed the whirling space rock using a telescope controlled over the internet
-
Bond gadgets: Never say they will never work
28 May 2008
New Scientist rounds up once-fictional James Bond gadgets that are on their way to reality
-
Pentagon wants laser attack warnings for satellites
28 May 2008
With a possible space conflict looming, the Pentagon is developing sensors to detect a ground-based laser trying to blind one of its spy satellites
-
Nothing beats a home-cooked meal – even for apes
28 May 2008
Chimps and other apes seem to prefer cooked food over raw – the finding may show that our ancestors had an innate preference for cooked food
-
US struggling to respond to climate shift
28 May 2008
Climate change is already having a marked effect on US ecosystems, but inadequate monitoring is hampering the country's ability to react
-
Milky Way's mass is drastically reduced
28 May 2008
Measurements of stars milling around our galaxy suggest the Milky Way is not quite the heavyweight astronomers thought
-
Eating less beats exercise for a long life
28 May 2008
Mice that consume less live longer, whether they exercise or not, and now we know one of the key molecules involved
-
Giant pterosaurs stalked baby dinos 'like storks'
28 May 2008
The largest flying animal ever known reached down with their massive beaks to snatch prey – only they probably preferred dinosaurs to frogs
-
Childhood lead exposure can predict criminality
28 May 2008
A long-term study that followed children until they were adult finds that levels of lead contamination when young can predict criminality
-
Stunning new images of Phoenix Mars lander released
28 May 2008
Phoenix appears to parachute into a giant crater in an image by the MRO spacecraft, which has also spotted the lander on the Martian surface
-
'Horror frog' breaks own bones to produce claws
28 May 2008
Hairy frogs from the Cameroon have revealed a remarkable mechanism that causes thorn-like claws to burst through the skin when it is threatened
-
Space particles play with the mind
28 May 2008
If high-energy particles trigger hallucinations by interfering with astronauts' brains, can it ever be safe to travel in space, asks Stuart Clark
-
Mirror on morality
28 May 2008
-
Feedback
28 May 2008
-
Histories: Microscopic stars of the silver screen
28 May 2008
At the turn of the 20th century, wildlife films ousted magicians and ballet dancers as the music hall's favourite turn
-
60 Seconds
28 May 2008
-
Food careers, glorious food careers
28 May 2008
Food and drink is big business, and scientists are well-equipped to get a piece of the pie. Julia Pierce explores four different career paths
-
Foot-and-mouth lab should stay on island
28 May 2008
A new report slams plans to move the US's Animal Disease Center to the mainland, arguing that the risk of a virus escaping is too great
-
Phoenix Mars lander's first images reveal a quilted surface
28 May 2008
The shapes stretching as far as the eye can see may be the result of expanding subsurface ice
-
Editorial: Science thrives as NASA succeeds on Mars
28 May 2008
NASA's Mars programme has chalked up another success with the successful arrival of Phoenix on the Red Planet. This should be good for science too
-
Stumped
28 May 2008
-
Shell suit
28 May 2008
-
Fountain of youth
28 May 2008
-
No way back
28 May 2008
-
For peat's sake
28 May 2008
-
Forecast fair
28 May 2008
-
Fool cell
28 May 2008
-
What kind of god is that?
28 May 2008
-
For the record
28 May 2008
-
Boxing clever
28 May 2008
-
Trust him, he's a lawyer
28 May 2008
-
Wind-power feedback
28 May 2008
-
Needs must
28 May 2008
-
Nipping dangerous drugs in the bud
28 May 2008
A new FDA initiative will check prescription claims and doctors' invoices to reveal whether those prescribed specific drugs are seeking treatment for side effects
-
Surplus requirement
28 May 2008
-
Everyone's a loser
28 May 2008
-
The greening of Silicon Valley
28 May 2008
The venture capitalists who brought us PCs and the internet are planning to clean up by investing in green energy, says Justin Mullins
-
Safe as houses?
28 May 2008
-
Soundbites
28 May 2008
-
Exotic nitrogen could offer safe rocket fuel
28 May 2008
Stringing nitrogen atoms together inside a nanotube could make for an energy-dense and safe fuel – the only problem is making it
-
Spy satellites to be equipped for laser attacks
28 May 2008
The Pentagon wants to know if its spy satellites come under ground attack, so it is developing sensors that can tell when lasers are pointed at them
-
Gizmo
28 May 2008
-
Comment: Don't expect ET to look like us
28 May 2008
In their search for extraterrestrial life, SETI astronomers have been looking for the wrong thing, says Steven J. Dick
-
Finnish epidemic offers clues to diabetes
28 May 2008
Finland is the diabetes capital of the world, and rates are increasing there faster than ever, but no one knows why
-
Chameleons only half-hide from colour-blind predators
28 May 2008
Chameleons adopt less careful camouflage when faced with predators with poor colour vision
-
From big earthquakes, little tremors grow
28 May 2008
No matter how far away it is, a distant earthquake can trigger additional tremors on the other side of the world
-
Childhood lead exposure leads to crime
28 May 2008
Being exposed to lead as a child interferes with the formation of nerve synapses and parts of the brain involved in emotion and inhibition
-
Double trouble
28 May 2008
-
Motion-capture without the markers
28 May 2008
Software that captures an actor's movements without the use of body markers could slash the cost of producing animated movies
-
Arctic freeze a breeze for superstrong steel
28 May 2008
A new type of steel resists fractures at much lower temperatures, without the need for expensive additives
-
Is this a unified theory of the brain?
28 May 2008
A researcher claims to have discovered a model that describes the entire brain in one fell swoop. Gregory T Huang does some hard thinking
-
Social interactions in flies reverse ageing effects
28 May 2008
Flies with a genetic mutation that reduces their lifespan did not feel its effects if they shared a home with young flies
-
Friendly bacteria to the rescue
28 May 2008
Beneficial gut microbes produce anti-inflammatory compounds that could some day help treat gut diseases in people
-
Commentary: Humans always pull both ways
28 May 2008
We'll never sort out our conflicting drives towards killing and saving each other, but we should at least acknowledge them, says A C Grayling
-
Review: Why Popcorn Costs So Much at the Movies by Richard McKenzie
28 May 2008
We might assume that popcorn is expensive to buy from cinemas because of monopoly pricing, but such obvious explanations are not always right
-
Review: The Power Makers by Maury Klein
28 May 2008
Mick Hamer applauds a fascinating tale of how steam power and electricity transformed America
-
Review: The Political Mind by George Lakoff
28 May 2008
If winning elections is a matter of manipulating brains, then George Bush and his team are experts in neuroscience – but Owen Flanagan isn't convinced
-
Earth sunshade would not rewind the climate
28 May 2008
Blocking the sun's rays with space-borne mirrors would not return Earth's climate to that of pre-industrial times, in another setback for the idea
-
Separating fact and fiction in the Bible
28 May 2008
Controversial Israeli archaeologist Israel Finkelstein is convinced that many Old Testament tales are wrong or exaggerated
-
Radio glitch cut communication with Mars lander
27 May 2008
An unexplained glitch with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter prevented new commands from being sent to the recently landed Phoenix probe
-
Gamma-ray mission may detect dark matter
27 May 2008
GLAST, set to launch on 3 June, will study the most powerful cosmic explosions and just might pin down the nature of dark matter
-
Runaway balloon delays parachutist's record jump
27 May 2008
A French parachutist's bid to set a world freefall record is in doubt after the balloon that was to carry him 40 km above the surface left without him
-
Military robot subs seek out sunken treasure
27 May 2008
Autonomous submarines designed to discover explosive mines have been put to use finding hidden archaeological artefacts in a US Navy event
-
Incredible shrinking frogs: The price of deforestation?
27 May 2008
Human disruption to habitats not only causes populations to get smaller, it also seems to cause the individuals of some species to literally shrink
-
Mars scientists ponder polygon mystery
27 May 2008
The latest images from the Phoenix mission have baffled scientists with geometric surface features that are not as anyone expected
-
Invention: Shopper-watching windows
27 May 2008
This week's new patent applications include smart shop displays to lure dithering buyers, a quick-acting and portable explosives detector, and a way of producing sterile "nano cosmetics" using turbulence
-
Religion is a product of evolution, software suggests
27 May 2008
By distilling religious belief into a genetic predisposition, a computer program may explain how humans evolved a spiritual side
-
Major quakes spawn extra tremors across the globe
27 May 2008
No matter how far away it is, a distant earthquake can trigger additional tremors right across the globe
-
Crash-predicting car can brace itself for impact
27 May 2008
A car that automatically reinforces its frame when a side-on collision is imminent has been put through its first crash tests
-
Early images reveal frosts on Pluto
27 May 2008
The weather on Pluto is revealed by a new analysis of images taken soon after the dwarf planet was discovered
-
Spacecraft spies probe parachuting to Martian surface
26 May 2008
NASA's eagle-eyed Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter caught a glimpse of the Phoenix lander as it dropped through the planet's atmosphere
-
How a thriving social life can boost lifespan
26 May 2008
Flies engineered to have short life spans live longer if they have an active social life – the finding may benefit ageing humans
-
Orchid lures bees with promise of sex with strangers
26 May 2008
Male bees are exploited by orchids that pose as irresistibly scented exotic females
-
Cheap carbon trap cleans up power station emissions
26 May 2008
A new filter separates the gases emitted by fossil-fuel power stations, allowing carbon dioxide to be sequestered without space-wasting nitrogen
-
New mesh gives net gains against mosquitoes
26 May 2008
Improved bed nets designed to stop mosquitoes in their tracks by storing insecticide for longer are undergoing large-scale trials
-
First Phoenix images reveal 'quilted' Martian terrain
26 May 2008
The lander has unfurled its solar panels and transmitted its first images, revealing a remarkably flat and strangely patterned landscape
-
Phoenix lander safely touches down on Mars
26 May 2008
The probe survives its dangerous descent to the surface, but it will take another 90 minutes to find out if its solar panels deployed
-
Earth and space detectors to listen for Mars landing
25 May 2008
Orbiting spacecraft and Earth-based telescopes will listen for a signal from the Phoenix probe after its harrowing descent to the Martian surface
-
Ban on first-cousin marriages 'not necessary'
25 May 2008
Education combined with genetic screening is better than a ban, finds a review of the risks associated with first cousins who have children
-
Peanuts and Rolling Stones on hand for Mars landing
25 May 2008
One day before the Phoenix spacecraft attempts to land on Mars, anxious mission members take comfort in good luck charms and hopeful rock lyrics
-
Internet to run out of addresses 'within 3 years'
24 May 2008
As of this month, 85% of the billions of available Internet Protocol addresses, which identify devices connected to the net, are already in use
-
Quirk of sea air provides video link to protected reef
24 May 2008
An atmospheric phenomenon is being used to transmit environmental data from the Great Barrier Reef across 78 km of ocean
-
Indonesia holding out for bird flu vaccine deal
24 May 2008
Indonesia will release genetic information from its recent H5N1 samples, but is still limiting export of viruses for vaccine development
-
Insight: Can we trust Atlantic hurricane prediction?
24 May 2008
The finding that global warming will lead to fewer Atlantic hurricanes carries weight, but it's by no means the last word, says, Fred Pearce
-
Phoenix Mars lander braces for its date with destiny
23 May 2008
The difference between failure and success for the mission could come down to the final seconds of its approach to the Martian surface
-
Dark energy 'imaged' in best detail yet
23 May 2008
The mysterious cosmic force should leave an imprint on the big bang's afterglow – astronomers think they've seen it in the best detail yet
-
Tracking desert dust could help hurricane prediction
23 May 2008
Saharan dust blown over the North Atlantic reflects solar radiation back out into space, thereby cooling the ocean surface and perhaps contributing to the formation of hurricanes
-
Fire & ice: What really happened to water on Mars
23 May 2008
Mars was never like Earth, in fact it's more alien than anyone ever imagined, discovers Stuart Clark
-
Burma's recovery could be hampered by salt
23 May 2008
Aid agencies are finally allowed into Burma, but with just weeks before the rice-planting season, farmland is still tainted by salt left during the storm
-
Do other star systems need protection from Earth life?
23 May 2008
It's not too soon to start thinking about how to keep extrasolar planets free of terrestrial life, a new paper argues
-
Interview: Music of the hemispheres
23 May 2008
A catchy song stuck in your head can be irritating, but psychiatrist Ramon Mocellin treats people with "musical hallucinosis", a condition that means they frequently hear loud music that isn't there
-
Cell 'organs' get plastic upgrades
23 May 2008
Tiny capsules have been inserted into human cells that could one day boost deficient enzymes or trick cancer cells into poisoning themselves
-
Fear of huge aftershock keeps Chinese living outdoors
23 May 2008
The threat of destructive aftershocks mean thousands now have to live in tents – meanwhile, officials investigate possible bad building practices
-
Knowledgeable Republicans 'less concerned' over climate
23 May 2008
When it comes to global warming in the US, how knowledge translates into concern depends upon people's political views, say political psychologists
-
Lab rats turn cannibal in cleaner cages
23 May 2008
Regular cleaning of cages increases the likelihood of rats eating their own pups, perhaps by masking the animals' scent
-
'Fibrous' steel won't break in a cold snap
22 May 2008
Subjecting cheap steel to the extreme heat and pressure can make it as cold-resistant as more expensive alloys
-
Earth canyon hints at ancient megafloods on Mars
22 May 2008
Powerful floods must have carved Idaho's Box Canyon, researchers argue – similar canyons exist on Mars
-
Gut bugs may have guided the evolution of life
22 May 2008
An analysis of faeces from dozens of mammals, including humans, suggests that gut-dwelling microbes might influence animals' evolution
-
Huge hidden biomass lives deep beneath the oceans
22 May 2008
Discovery of ancient living cells 1.6 km beneath the sea floor suggests 'we may have misunderstood life', says geobiologist
-
Video roundup: Animals with 'human' abilities
22 May 2008
Recent research has captured animals on camera behaving in ways that challenge the concept of human uniqueness. Here we look at six of the best
-
Third red spot erupts on Jupiter
22 May 2008
A third giant red storm has flared up on Jupiter, joining the Great Red Spot and Red Spot Jr – its appearance comes at a time of global upheaval
-
Six 'uniquely' human traits now found in animals
22 May 2008
We like to think we have a truckload of traits found nowhere else in the animal kingdom, but this pick of the New Scientist archive suggests otherwise
-
Alaska to sue over polar bears' status as 'threatened'
22 May 2008
The state will sue the US government to stop the listing of the polar bear as a threatened species, arguing the designation will slow development in the state
-
Strokable robot rabbit talks with touch
22 May 2008
A furry robot that can only communicate through touch highlights the importance of tactile feedback to human interactions with technology
-
Sun's properties not 'fine-tuned' for life
22 May 2008
Stars don't need special properties to host habitable planets like Earth, suggesting the whole universe is teeming with life
-
How to protect your good name against cyberspite
22 May 2008
It's all too easy for your online reputation to be ruined by malicious comments on websites, but now there's a way to fight back
-
Low snowfall puts Alpine tourism on a downhill slide
22 May 2008
The amount of snow that falls in the Alps has dropped dramatically since the 1980s and may not recover, say researchers
-
Quitting smokers act like flocks of birds
21 May 2008
Smokers often quit in clusters, stranding the few remaining smokers on the edges of their social networks
-
Urge to kill doctors increased by pain
21 May 2008
Though few commit the crime, the desire to kill your doctor is surprisingly common, especially among patients who are in pain, a survey reveals
-
Cat brain could provide bionic eye firmware
21 May 2008
Software that perceives moving images in the same way a cat does could lead to implants that let people see without an optic nerve
-
Star self-destructs before astronomers' eyes
21 May 2008
By chance, a satellite has recorded footage of the very moment that a massive star blew up
-
Baby caribou hit by climate double whammy
21 May 2008
Plants in Greenland are blooming earlier but the caribou are not adapting, possibly because they respond to changes in light levels rather than rising temperatures
-
'Grasshopper' robot sets high-jump record
21 May 2008
A spring-powered robot has jumped 27 times its own height – swarms of such devices could be used to track pollution or explore other planets
-
Perspectives: Reinventing human identity
21 May 2008
Susan Greenfield argues that we need to think seriously about what 21st century technologies will do to the minds of future generations
-
Earth may hide a lethal carbon cache
21 May 2008
The escape of carbon dioxide and methane from deep within the Earth could have profound implications for climate warming
-
Chameleons fine-tune camouflage to predator's vision
21 May 2008
A South African chameleon can modify its colour changes depending on the visual acuity of the predator, tests reveal
-
So you think humans are unique?
21 May 2008
Over the past decade, hard scientific fact has steadily chipped away at our supposedly unique qualities. Now, even language is no longer something we can call our own
-
Periodic fable
21 May 2008
-
Carbon to go
21 May 2008
-
Sunlit space station to put on marathon sky show
21 May 2008
From Wednesday to Friday, the space station will emerge from Earth's shadow, sweeping across the sky up to four times a day
-
Graduate Special: Make a discovery
21 May 2008
How to be a success in science by... making a discovery. Alison Motluk finds out the best way for a scientist to make a new discovery
-
Feedback
21 May 2008
-
Shapeshifters
21 May 2008
-
What evolution?
21 May 2008
-
Treating animals like molecules aids census
21 May 2008
By assuming that animals move around randomly like molecules in a gas, biologists are able to accurately gauge animal numbers in the wild
-
Short cuts in mind
21 May 2008
-
'Self-digesting' biofuel plants could ease food crisis
21 May 2008
As biofuel helps push up food prices, researchers say that unusual genetic engineering is the best way to get cheap ethanol from inedible plants
-
Gizmo
21 May 2008
-
Rhythm of the seers
21 May 2008
-
Fortune and Glory by Douglas Palmer, Nicholas James and Giles Sparrow
21 May 2008
Read about the spectacular archaeological discoveries made by the real precursors to Indiana Jones
-
Thousand Mile Song by David Rothenberg
21 May 2008
A philosopher and musician sets out on a quest to understand whale song – and to join in
-
Graduate Special: Start a business
21 May 2008
How to be a success in science by... starting a business. Alison Motluk speaks to scientists who have successfully turned their hand to the business world
-
Graduate Special: Become an inventor
21 May 2008
How to be a success in science by... becoming an inventor. Jason Palmer learns the secrets of success from some of our top young inventors
-
Graduate Special: Become an expert
21 May 2008
How to be a success in science by... becoming an expert. Colin Barras discovers that you can become an expert in more ways than one
-
Graduate Special: Become Famous
21 May 2008
How to be a success in science by... becoming famous. Colin Barras finds out how scientists can play the fame-game
-
Graduate Special: Go to the extreme
21 May 2008
How to be a success in science by... going to the extreme. Going higher, colder, and smaller than ever before. Colin Barras finds out how living and working in extreme conditions can lead to some exciting discoveries
-
Editorial: Not unique but special
21 May 2008
Recent research has shown that traits once thought uniquely human are in fact shared by animals, so what is it that lets us achieve so much?
-
Graduate Special: Making a difference
21 May 2008
How to be a success in science by... making a difference. Alison Motluk discovers that your greatest achievement could be helping the world's poor, developing breakthrough technologies and improving the lives of others
-
Graduate Special: Make some money
21 May 2008
How to be a success in science by... making money. Jason Palmer finds out how to net the biggest salaries in science
-
Teachers still preaching creationism in US classrooms
21 May 2008
US courts might have ruled that creationism and intelligent design are religion not science, but US science educators still teach the theories
-
Nanotubes could cause lung disease like asbestos
21 May 2008
Carbon nanotubes can cause inflammation when injected into mice, calling into question their potential use in drug delivery
-
'Cheetah' legs don't give unfair boost
21 May 2008
Sprinter and double amputee Oscar Pistorius burns just as much energy as other elite athletes running at the same speed, say experts
-
Jane's Space Recognition Guide by Peter Bond
21 May 2008
Space fans and pub-quiz contestants alike should take note of this invaluable guide to space
-
Fatal Misconception by Matthew Connelly
21 May 2008
Connelly's book reveals population control in the 20th century as a cruel and inhuman campaign. Fred Pearce hopes we can learn from our mistakes
-
Commentary: Science is losing out to the allure of Wall Street
21 May 2008
The biggest brain drain of our scientific talent may come from within, says Lawrence Krauss
-
Chips not quite down
21 May 2008
-
No to nuclear power
21 May 2008
-
Mental health in school
21 May 2008
-
Carbon to go
21 May 2008
-
Coley's cure
21 May 2008
-
Belief elsewhere
21 May 2008
-
Heart of darkness
21 May 2008
-
Neurons mirror what?
21 May 2008
-
Science rules OK: Running societies the rational way
21 May 2008
We would be horrified if our doctors gave us untested drugs, yet our governments dish out untested policies day after day. Hazel Muir investigates the alternative
-
Interview: Bring on the solar revolution
21 May 2008
German Social Democrat MP Hermann Scheer says converting the world to renewable energy will be surprisingly painless
-
Graduate Special: Success
21 May 2008
Fame, fortune and happiness await those who are successful in life. Our graduate special is packed with advice to help you find the same rewards as a scientist
-
Altered images
21 May 2008
-
Inflation theory
21 May 2008
-
Graduate Special: Finding Happiness
21 May 2008
How to be a success in science by... finding happiness. Michael Bond discovers how scientists can succeed in the quest for happiness and wellbeing
-
Comment: No way up for women physicists
21 May 2008
Physics will not be a fair field until unconscious gender biases are acknowledged and tackled head on, says Sherry Towers
-
Earlier the better for autism therapy?
21 May 2008
Intervening in autism before 3 years of age used to be unheard of, but now researchers are looking for signs in children as young as 9 months
-
Soundbites
21 May 2008
-
Body's own drug damps down fear
21 May 2008
Morphine-like drugs produced in the body can have a damping effect on how much fear we feel – a finding that may shine new light on phobias
-
Transgenic monkeys to aid Huntington's research
21 May 2008
Primates genetically engineered to get human neurological diseases could provide a unique way to test potential treatments
-
Shorebirds defy gravity to get a drop to eat
21 May 2008
Some shorebirds consume food in water droplets by using surface tension to ratchet water into the mouth
-
Ivy uses nanoparticles to cling to walls
21 May 2008
The climbing plant sticks to walls so fiercely because it secretes sticky nanoparticles
-
For the record
21 May 2008
-
60 Seconds
21 May 2008
-
Neurons mirror what?
21 May 2008
-
Editorial: Scientific testing can prevent policy disasters
21 May 2008
Science can't tell us what a society's aims should be, but it is the best way to find out which policies will help us to achieve those aims
-
Rehab and pain strengthen 'Kill-MD' urge
21 May 2008
The urge to kill your doctor is surprisingly common and more likely among people undergoing physical rehabilitation or in pain, a survey reveals
-
Genes not pigmentation reveal skin cancer risk
21 May 2008
The extent to which sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer among people with light pigmentation depends on genes
-
False teeth sensors reveal the secrets of speech
21 May 2008
-
Space station 'lifeboat' gets the all-clear
21 May 2008
NASA says the Soyuz craft can serve as an escape vehicle for shuttle astronauts at the International Space Station
-
Body's natural painkillers may damp down phobias
20 May 2008
Conditioned fear responses can be partially blocked by opiates produced naturally within the body – the finding may shed light on anxiety disorders
-
Satellite images of giant kangaroo to aid climate studies
20 May 2008
A 32-metre-tall cardboard kangaroo was photographed from space on Tuesday to see how much sunlight Earth reflects
-
Nanotubes' toxic effects 'similar to asbestos'
20 May 2008
Carbon nanotubes injected into mice produce a similar toxic reaction to asbestos, but the same effects may not occur if the tubes are inhaled
-
The beginning of the end for Japanese whaling?
20 May 2008
Whaling in Japan has concerned the international community for years, but now a domestic whale meat scandal has brought the issue home
-
'Poets' and 'jocks' can both win in songbird duels
20 May 2008
While the best male singers can win females by singing popular tunes well, lousy singers have to get original, according to a new theory
-
UK may store all phone calls and emails
20 May 2008
A huge database logging every person's communications, from phone calls to browsing history, is mooted as a weapon against terrorism and crime
-
Ice flow alone explains why fjords are cut so deep
20 May 2008
A computer model of fjord formation shows positive feedback in the way ice moves towards the sea is entirely responsible
-
False-teeth sensors reveal tongue's twists
20 May 2008
Dentures equipped with pressure sensors can shed light on hidden tongue movements and could help synthesise more realistic voices
-
Why the 'Blade Runner' is back on track
20 May 2008
Amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius can once again compete with able-bodied runners using his controversial carbon-fibre legs. New Scientist looks at the science that led to the lifting of his ban
-
Tasmanian tiger DNA 'lives' again
20 May 2008
Extinction isn't forever for the wolf-like marsupial that died out 70 years ago – its DNA has been resurrected inside mice
-
16% of US science teachers are creationists
20 May 2008
A survey reveals that a significant minority of US science teachers believe that human beings were created by God within the last 10,000 years
-
Gravity Probe B scores 'F' in NASA review
20 May 2008
The mission, designed to test general relativity, came in last in a review of 10 NASA spacecraft
-
NASA clears next shuttle mission for lift-off
19 May 2008
Downplaying concerns about the safety of an escape system on the space station, NASA clears the shuttle Discovery for a 31 May launch
-
Puny star unleashes deadly flare
19 May 2008
A small red dwarf star has erupted with the brightest flare ever seen from a normal star other than the Sun
-
One in eight bird species threatened by climate change
19 May 2008
Habitat loss and climate change are pushing many bird species towards extinction, according to a new comprehensive assessment
-
Banks turn to spyware over rogue-trader fears
19 May 2008
Fears about internal security are increasingly driving banks to software that can monitor employees' electronic communications, say analysts
-
Advertising feature: Stem cell research
19 May 2008
California isn't the only state to act in support of human embryonic stem cell research. As Angela Spivey finds out, opportunities abound
-
Five things humans no longer need
19 May 2008
Vestigial organs are hotly disputed, with some, like the appendix, possibly not vestigial after all. We pick out five that almost certainly are
-
Mystery deepens over origin of biggest black holes
19 May 2008
New simulations fail to explain how black holes weighing more than a billion Suns formed so soon after the big bang
-
Climbing ivy reveals secret 'superglue'
19 May 2008
Darwin once puzzled over how ivy sticks to walls so effortlessly – now researchers have discovered its nanoscale trick
-
How to lose a hole the size of a universe
19 May 2008
A giant void in the cosmos discovered last year is probably a statistical artefact, say astronomers
-
Invention: Blood-pressure-sensing underpants
19 May 2008
This week's new patent applications include underwear that records blood pressure throughout the day, CO2 foam to kill flu-infested birds humanely, and wallpaper that blasts out sound
-
Video search engine watches and learns
19 May 2008
A new system is learning how to tag online video by analysing clips from video-sharing website YouTube
-
DNA test would take guesswork out of IVF
19 May 2008
Genetic profiling can separate viable embryos from duds – and may result in a test within 2 years, suggest researchers
-
Brittle-star 'city' discovered on underwater mountain
19 May 2008
See the first images of a thriving colony of millions of starfish-like animals living on an underwater mountain range south of New Zealand
-
Warmer planet may mean fewer Atlantic hurricanes
18 May 2008
Global warming is generally expected to bring more hurricanes, but a new study suggests that, in the Atlantic at least, the number could actually drop
-
Skin-tone gene could predict cancer risk
18 May 2008
A gene that affects both skin colour and the chances of getting skin cancer has been found – screening for the gene might flag up high-risk people
-
Monkey engineered to develop Huntington's disease
18 May 2008
The first transgenic primate that can develop the human disease has been created, boosting hopes for treating the neurodegenerative illness
-
Power plants open to hacker attack
18 May 2008
A software package widely used to automate power stations and production lines has a serious security vulnerability
-
Biggest is not best in mosquito mating game
18 May 2008
Being super-sized is not an advantage for a mosquito since they lose out on mates to more average-sized insects
-
Cosmic dust gives water a helping hand
17 May 2008
A lab test shows that frozen grains of dust in interstellar clouds are a likely site for the formation of water
-
Bird migration at mercy of weather patterns
17 May 2008
Severe weather conditions as a result of climate change could make it impossible for migratory birds to complete their long-distance flights
-
Black holes may lurk in unexpected places
16 May 2008
Where in the cosmos might black holes be hiding? Marcus Chown looks behind the sofa
-
Man-made 'defensin' rips resistant bacteria apart
16 May 2008
A mimic of a potent compound used by immune cells could provide an alternative to antibiotics, which bacteria can become resistant to
-
How information escapes from a black hole
16 May 2008
A new study bolsters the idea that quantum fuzziness smoothes out a black hole's destructive 'singularity', allowing information to escape
-
'Self-digesting' biofuel plants could ease food crisis
16 May 2008
As biofuel helps push up food prices, researchers say that unusual genetic engineering may be the best way to get cheap ethanol from inedible plants
-
Adapted aircon can track movement in the home
16 May 2008
Pressure detectors in air-conditioning units can track the movement of people through a building and could be used to save energy
-
Treating animals like molecules aids census
16 May 2008
By assuming that animals move around randomly like molecules in a gas, biologists are able to accurately gauge animal numbers in the wild
-
Global biodiversity slumps 27% in 35 years
16 May 2008
The biggest survey yet of vertebrate populations shows an overall decline, despite government initiatives to conserve species
-
Fat is an environmental issue
16 May 2008
Even when resting, obese people are using more of the world's food resources than slim people, say researchers
-
Space shuttle replacement may make water landings
15 May 2008
Splashing down in the sea would shave 500 kg off of the Orion crew capsule, but seawater could damage equipment
-
Astronomers measure temperature of the early universe
15 May 2008
Measurements of a distant galaxy's gas suggest the universe was about three times warmer 11 billion years ago than it is today
-
Climbing is a walk in the park for small primates
15 May 2008
For primates like lorises, climbing requires no more energy than walking, suggesting it was relatively easy for them to evolve to feed in trees
-
Pump it up: Bird defies gravity to feed
15 May 2008
Some shorebirds consume food in water droplets by using surface tension to ratchet water into the mouth
-
DNA tests open a Pandora's Box of flies
15 May 2008
Rather than just six, a group of tropical flies contains at least 52 species, suggesting that tropical environments are even more diverse than thought
-
Fifty years of DARPA: A surprising history
15 May 2008
The US defence research agency, with a remit to think outside the box, turns 50 - New Scientist looks back at how it has changed the world
-
Fifty years of DARPA: Hits, misses and ones to watch
15 May 2008
Founded to protect the US against "technological surprise", the agency has achieved some spectacular successes - and failures - in its 50-year history
-
Fifty years of DARPA: Hits, misses and ones to watch, part II
15 May 2008
Founded to protect the US against "technological surprise" the agency has achieved some spectacular successes and equally spectacular failures in its 50-year history
-
Europe's first crewed spaceship on the horizon
15 May 2008
The European Space Agency may convert its new space cargo ship for human use – but the first flights are likely a decade away
-
Insecticides in pet shampoo may trigger autism
15 May 2008
Two studies suggest a link between different classes of insecticides and autism spectrum disorders, but a genetic factor is also likely, say experts
-
Instant messaging 'a linguistic renaissance' for teens
15 May 2008
Online messaging, far from ruining teenagers' communication skills, allows them to deploy both formal and colloquial language
-
NATO to give Estonia cyber defences
15 May 2008
A centre designed to protect against 'cyber war' is to be set up in the country brought to its knees by hackers last year
-
How the MySpace mindset can boost medical science
15 May 2008
Social networking is empowering patients and opening up new avenues for serious disease research
-
Jupiter moon's poles 'wandered' far and wide
14 May 2008
Europa's icy outer shell may have slipped about 80° within the last 60 million years, carrying the moon's polar regions towards the equator
-
Surgical robot gives hair transplants a natural look
14 May 2008
By plucking individual hair follicles and placing them in a natural pattern the speedy robot can make transplants look less artificial
-
Pilot whales are the sprinters of the deep
14 May 2008
Rather than cruise slowly at depth, conserving precious oxygen, the whales will make short, intense chases to catch nutritious prey
-
'Cuddle chemical' could treat mental illness
14 May 2008
Feed the brain a chemical linked with love, trust and affection and all sorts of magical things happen. Maia Szalavitz reports
-
Vestigial organs: Remnants of evolution
14 May 2008
History has revised them, creationists deny them, but vestigial organs are still an unmistakable part of our evolutionary heritage, says Laura Spinney
-
To make the most of wind power, go fly a kite
14 May 2008
Tethered kites sent high into the air could be far more efficient than land-based wind turbines, says Michael Brooks
-
Comment: Indiana Jones is no bad thing for science
14 May 2008
Few scientific disciplines have a hero as charismatic as Indiana Jones. Despite the whip, researchers should embrace the stereotype, says Cornelius Holtorf.
-
A sprinkle of limestone could help oceans absorb CO2
14 May 2008
Adding limestone to the oceans would increase their ability to absorb CO2 – this could reduce global warming and even reinvigorate ailing coral reefs
-
IVF test could spot 'dud' embryos
14 May 2008
Differences in gene expression may predict which embryos will go to term, say researchers – the findings could lead to a test within two years
-
Victorian supernova helps fill missing link
14 May 2008
A supernova remnant near the centre of our galaxy turns out to be only 140 years old - the discovery fills a gap in the astronomical record
-
Life feels the effects of a changing climate
14 May 2008
Climate change is already altering our planet's biology, with only Antarctica so far spared its influence, says an analysis of thousands of studies
-
Why blind brains never stop seeing
14 May 2008
Years after someone loses their sight, their brain preserves some of its original ability to process visual information, raising hopes that some people could have their vision restored
-
Curious contraptions: Turn-of-the-century gadgets
14 May 2008
Watch a slideshow of some ancient gadgets – from a wrist-mounted precursor to satnav, to a mass-mailing machine
-
Older brothers mean smaller siblings
14 May 2008
There are plenty of reasons not to get on with an older brother, but perhaps younger siblings have a genuine reason to feel hard done by
-
ET poses no problem for Vatican
14 May 2008
The Vatican's chief astronomer says there is no conflict between believing in God and in the possibility of 'extraterrestrial brothers'
-
Australian budget tackles environment concerns
14 May 2008
In its first budget, Australia's new labour government has made good on election promises to tackle climate change and Australia's water crisis
-
Gamers teach search engines how to see
14 May 2008
A site that gets human players to label images and music could help search results accurately gauge the content of media files
-
Grass's secret weapon is a bellyache for rodents
14 May 2008
Silica nodules produced by grasses in response to grazing by voles could be causing the rodent populations to boom and bust, suggests fieldwork
-
Interview: Hans Blix – the man who won't give up
14 May 2008
Hans Blix is best known as the UN's chief weapons inspector in Iraq. Now he's turning his attention to the real nuclear powers. He tells Debora MacKenzie how he's trying to convince them to make their weapons disappear too
-
Living bandage heals damaged organs
14 May 2008
A layer of healthy cells wrapped around organs could lead to powerful new treatments for diseased body parts
-
Wild sloths are no sleepyheads after all
14 May 2008
The first study to analyse sloth sleep patterns in the wild has profound implications for the understanding of sleep in both animals and humans
-
UK releases classified UFO files
14 May 2008
The UK's Ministry of Defence has started releasing decades' worth of UFO-related files – predictably, some are downright bizarre
-
Mirror, mirror
14 May 2008
-
Robot gives hair transplants a natural look
14 May 2008
The process of hair transplantation involves a fleet of medical staff working long shifts – now a robot can conduct the operation more quickly and with less pain
-
Viagra might protect hearts of muscular dystrophy sufferers
14 May 2008
Viagra inhibits the breakdown of an enzyme that can help keep a heart healthy, a study in mice finds
-
Pilot whales make a dash for their prey
14 May 2008
A high-energy sprint is worth the effort for this deep-diving whale if it can nab speedy but succulent prey
-
Ocean 'conveyor belt' gives warnings before it slows
14 May 2008
Up to a decade before the change of a major current that spreads heat around the globe, the Scandinavian seas provide a warning
-
Seaweed reveals early Americans' adaptability
14 May 2008
The earliest settlers used seaweed both to supplement their food and as a medicine, say archaeologists excavating a site in Chile
-
Facial expressions excite mirror neurons
14 May 2008
These specialised brain cells that help us learn tasks from others, seem to also help us figure out how others are feeling
-
Very local research
14 May 2008
-
Carbon trade or tax?
14 May 2008
-
Buried, but not dead
14 May 2008
-
Northward Ho!
14 May 2008
-
For the record
14 May 2008
-
Voting vagaries
14 May 2008
-
Typical humans
14 May 2008
-
Misters of the universe
14 May 2008
-
Coal and cancer
14 May 2008
-
Nine lives!
14 May 2008
-
Time after time
14 May 2008
-
New, improved placebo
14 May 2008
-
Killer cheetah disease spread by faeces
14 May 2008
Captive cheetahs often die of a disease which can cause organ failure – now researchers say the condition might be transmitted via the animals' faeces
-
Gene to blame for deadly pregnancies
14 May 2008
Mice lacking the gene developed symptoms of the devastating birth condition, which strikes about 20 weeks into pregnancy and can kill both mother and child
-
When burning gas is good for the planet
14 May 2008
Biogas plants that turn rotting manure into eco-friendly fuel are cost-effective and good for rural villager's health, say researchers
-
No rise in premature baby survival rates
14 May 2008
Contrary to the claims of anti-abortionists, the survival rate of extremely premature babies is no better today than it was a decade ago
-
Air pollution causes dangerous blood clots
14 May 2008
People living in the Lombardy region of Italy were 70% more likely to develop dangerous blood clots if they lived in more polluted areas
-
Review: Apocalypse by Amos Nur with Dawn Burgess
14 May 2008
Earthquakes may have played a major role in the collapse of civilisations, says Amos Nur
-
Review: In Pursuit of the Gene by James Schwartz
14 May 2008
The history of genetics is full of inspiring figures whose personal stories are little told
-
Josef Fritzl – a case of moral insanity
14 May 2008
The notion of "evil" is not sufficient to describe the actions of the Austrian Austrian man who sexually enslaved his daughter for 24 years, says A C Grayling
-
Histories: Cutting energy bills the Victorian way
14 May 2008
Might gloomy shops and offices benefit from reviving "daylighting" technology that once challenged hazardous gaslights and newfangled and costly electric bulbs
-
Licensed premise
14 May 2008
-
Editorial: Burma shows the importance of farming science
14 May 2008
As the world warms we can expect more severe storms and increasing stress on crops. Without more investment in farming science, Burma's plight today may be ours tomorrow
-
Editorial: Digging for ancient minds
14 May 2008
A joint endeavour by archaeologists and neuroscientists to understand how early humans gained their cognitive powers will help us to predict what lies ahead for us
-
Soda soother
14 May 2008
-
60 Seconds
14 May 2008
-
Soundbites
14 May 2008
-
Plant depression
14 May 2008
-
Japan allows military to operate in space
14 May 2008
The Japanese military is to be allowed to operate in space in response to the growing threat posed by North Korea and China
-
How culture made your modern mind
14 May 2008
Our great leap forward was driven not by the brain alone, but by its interplay with the material world, say researchers
-
Feedback
14 May 2008
-
Flight path
14 May 2008
-
Eye level
14 May 2008
-
Interview: At the heart of conflict
14 May 2008
Monitoring the front line where logging companies vie with local people over the Amazonian forests, Mauricio Torres has come up against violence and corruption, but still has hopes for the future
-
Ballast stowaways get heat treatment
14 May 2008
Large microwaves could kill the invasive species that get spread worldwide in ships' ballast tanks
-
Satellite spin
14 May 2008
-
Animal carers research
14 May 2008
-
Creationists unveil 'God Lab'
14 May 2008
The cat-and-mouse contest between science and creationism takes a new turn with the unveiling of a "God lab" set up to search for scientific evidence for intelligent design
-
Gizmo
14 May 2008
-
Mars probe set for nail-biting touchdown
13 May 2008
NASA's Phoenix probe will experience a harrowing few minutes on 25 May when it attempts to land on the Red Planet without airbags
-
Readers' Q&A: The science of sex
13 May 2008
Mary Roach, author of Bonk, answers your questions on the science of sex
-
Doubt cast on source of universe's mightiest particles
13 May 2008
Last year, researchers suggested ultra-high-energy cosmic rays originated near colossal black holes, but a new study questions that conclusion
-
Robot that gives birth helps medics learn
13 May 2008
A few lessons in handling babies using an animatronic set up greatly increases junior doctors' competence in difficult forceps deliveries
-
Virtual telescope brings the cosmos to your desktop
13 May 2008
A free Microsoft program called WorldWide Telescope lets users zoom in on cosmic images from the world's best observatories
-
Liquor-store sales linked to violent assaults
13 May 2008
An analysis of health records and alcohol sales receipts shows that hospitalisations for assault increase as more booze is bought locally
-
New material may be step towards 3D invisibility cloak
13 May 2008
A prism that bends light the "wrong way" could be the first 3D version of the metamaterials that allow unnatural powers over light
-
Accepted level of earthquake risk in China 'too high'
13 May 2008
The people of Sichuan are now paying the price for living in buildings built to withstand a quake one-fifth as powerful as the one that hit on Monday
-
Captive cheetahs at risk from their own faeces
13 May 2008
A disease that kills off captive cheetahs by forming clumps in their internal organs may be spread in the animals' droppings
-
Air pollution linked to dangerous blood clots
12 May 2008
Particles of soot released from traffic and factories may trigger the formation of the blood clots that cause deep vein thrombosis
-
Viagra keeps ailing hearts pumping
12 May 2008
The drug – commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction – appears to prevent heart damage caused by muscular dystrophy in mice
-
Volunteers asked to help find dead spacecraft on Mars
12 May 2008
New online images could hold clues to the fate of NASA's Mars Polar Lander, which was lost on the Red Planet in 1999
-
Vending machine can spot a youthful face
12 May 2008
A tobacco vending machine can compare a buyer's face against a large database of facial features to spot when they are too young to smoke
-
Comment: Here come the designer babies
12 May 2008
Doom-mongers claim the first steps have been taken towards 'enhanced designer babies' – but are we really marching towards eugenics?
-
When burning gas is good for the planet
12 May 2008
Rural families are slashing their energy costs, improving indoor air quality and helping preserve local forests by using biogas plants
-
Invention: Anti-scar bandage
12 May 2008
This week's new patent applications include bandages that keep a wound tightly closed to avoid scarring, a high-pressure spray to blast teeth clean, and a way of pulsing light into the brain to reveal neuron activity
-
How the brain detects the emotions of others
12 May 2008
"Mirror neurons" in the brain that light up when we watch other people doing tasks may also help us figure out how they are feeling
-
Enzyme-coated plastic could mean self-cleaning fabrics
12 May 2008
Plastic with clothes-washing enzymes built in could reduce laundry bills, or let protective suits digest chemical and biological hazards
-
Black hole trysts revealed by ultraviolet light
12 May 2008
When black holes merge, it's hard to tell that they were once a pair – but it seems they leave a clue
-
Smart cables help bridges bounce back after quakes
12 May 2008
Bridges with "shape memory" cables could deform during an earthquake and snap back into place when it's over
-
Treatment hope for killer pregnancy condition
11 May 2008
Pre-eclampsia, a condition that kills thousands of women and babies every year, may be treatable with a chemical found naturally in the body
-
Rats feel peer pressure too
11 May 2008
It's not just humans who succumb to peer pressure – brown rats too will disregard personal experiences and copy the behaviour of their peers
-
Stigma helps AIDS flourish in Russia
11 May 2008
Homophobia and the stigmatisation of people with HIV and AIDS are hampering efforts to tackle the spread of infection in the countries of the former Soviet Union
-
Scanning corpses reveals killer's fingerprints
10 May 2008
The corpses of murder victims can now betray the identity of their killers, thanks to a technique that can capture fingerprints left on a body
-
Restaurant smoking bans stop teens getting the habit
10 May 2008
Such smoking bans don't just protect diners and staff from other people's smoke, they help stop young people becoming habitual smokers
-
Why didn't Earth freeze under faint young Sun?
10 May 2008
The explanation for why a dimmer Sun didn't chill our planet could lie in a miscalculation in atmospheric models
-
Astronomers begin search for 'vanishing' stars
09 May 2008
A new survey is monitoring a million massive stars to see if any suddenly disappear, imploding to become black holes
-
Five science fiction movies that get the science right
09 May 2008
All too often movies make shocking science blunders, but here are a few rare gems that make a valiant effort to get it right
-
Cyclone survivors may have to grow their own food
09 May 2008
Storm damage has washed away Burma's main agricultural land, as its military rulers force the UN to stop shipments of emergency food
-
Sea changes could warn of Day After Tomorrow scenario
09 May 2008
In the movie, the world froze when the "ocean conveyor belt" turned off – now scientists say they could forecast any slowdown of the crucial current
-
Interview: Why I gave a teenager IVF
09 May 2008
Fertility specialist Ronit Haimov-Kochman explains why she treated a 16-year-old Arab patient and why other teens are likely to follow her example
-
Burma cyclone was forecast four days in advance
09 May 2008
The path of the Burma cyclone was accurately predicted four days before it made landfall, but the warning did not reach the people on the ground
-
Iron 'snow' may explain Mercury's magnetic field
09 May 2008
Experiments suggest solid iron snow may fall from two layers of clouds inside Mercury's liquid outer core
-
Cold plasma needles for dentists edge closer
09 May 2008
A luminous plume of ionised gas could find its way into your mouth on a future dentist's trip – although cool to touch, it is deadly to bacteria
-
Cow's milk may increase the risk of diabetes
09 May 2008
Could infant formula made of cow's milk cause children to produce antibodies that mistakenly destroy insulin-producing cells?
-
Why hip fat is good, but pot bellies are bad
09 May 2008
Researchers know that not all body fat is equal – the worst kind is excess fat on the internal organs, but fat on hips and thighs may even be beneficial
-
Magnetic rocks may reveal Martian life
08 May 2008
A miniature detector could pick out magnetic rocks on Mars that might have been made by bacteria
-
First Americans thrived on seaweed
08 May 2008
Ancient seaweed found in an archaeological site in Chile shows that early settlers had good knowledge of local resources
-
Great tits enjoying the warmer weather – so far
08 May 2008
The wild bird has shown great flexibility to adjust breeding patterns to match higher temperatures in the UK, but more warming could start to kill it off
-
Early whales got the bends
08 May 2008
Several different whale fossils show signs of decompression syndrome – the finding could revise the evolutionary history of deep diving
-
'Ping': Ship microwaves could beat ballast invaders
08 May 2008
Blasting ships' ballast water with microwaves would remove the biological species that wreak havoc on ecosystems – but the method isn't cheap
-
Europe recruits astronauts for possible Moon missions
08 May 2008
The European Space Agency is looking for a few good men and women to spearhead a new chapter in space exploration
-
Safe websites let you embarrass people in high places
08 May 2008
People with secrets to leak can now do so without being traced, thanks to internet sites that use tech tricks to hide whistleblowers' details
-
Sea creatures had a thing for bling
08 May 2008
Fossilised sea creatures have been found that coated themselves in tiny diamonds created in the asteroid impact that killed off the dinosaurs
-
Did 'naive engineers' spur China's anti-satellite test?
07 May 2008
China tested an anti-satellite weapon in 2007 simply because it was ready to test – not as a deliberate provocation, one space policy expert says
-
Climate scientists call for their own 'Manhattan Project'
07 May 2008
A global 'petaflop' supercomputing centre could provide detailed local forecasts of future climate change, say leading climate modellers
-
Platypus genome is as weird as its looks
07 May 2008
Two centuries after scientists deemed a dead specimen so outlandish it had to be a fake, the genes of the platypus have been laid bare
-
How cleaning up America dried up the Amazon
07 May 2008
US reductions in sulphate pollution may have led to severe droughts in the Amazon rainforest – and with climbing CO2 levels these could get worse
-
Birdwatching in stereo captures flocks in 3D
07 May 2008
A new system can calculate the positions of thousands of birds at once and could help shed light on human societies
-
Dust devils spotted at Mars probe's landing site
07 May 2008
Two dust devils towering nearly a kilometre high have appeared at the exact spot where the Phoenix lander is due to touch down in a few weeks
-
Depressed dads affect kids' speech development
07 May 2008
A new study suggests that 2-year olds have a smaller vocabulary if their fathers have depression than if their mothers do
-
Depressed dads affect their kids' speech development
07 May 2008
A new study suggests that 2-year olds have a smaller vocabulary if their fathers have depression than if their mothers do
-
Melting glaciers release toxic chemical cocktail
07 May 2008
As the climate warms, frozen stores of the insecticide DDT are trickling out of Antarctic glaciers and building up in penguins, say researchers
-
'Teacher toads' could be deployed as bioweapons
07 May 2008
Releasing baby cane toads, which are poisonous but normally not fatal when eaten, could teach Australia's wildlife to avoid the deadly adults
-
Bluetooth gives spies a window into your life
07 May 2008
Cellphones with Bluetooth are more of a privacy threat than RFID chips, say researchers who used the system to track 10,000 people in one city
-
Abuse may trigger gene changes found in suicide victims
07 May 2008
Childhood abuse seems to affect gene activity in the brain in ways that may increase the risk of suicide
-
Eight ways to get exactly what you want
07 May 2008
Winning people over is a key element of human interaction – from politics to marketing to everyday dealings with friends and family. New Scientist lifts the lid on the science of persuasion
-
Vote for negativity
07 May 2008
-
How child soldiers can adapt to life after war
07 May 2008
A generation of children who were kidnapped, brutalised and forced to kill have shown a remarkable ability to reintegrate into society
-
Bizarre genetic makeup of the platypus revealed
07 May 2008
The amalgam of mammal, bird and reptile that scientists once thought to weird to be real, also tells us about our own evolution
-
Global warming spells bad news for tropical insects
07 May 2008
The narrow temperature tolerance of some tropical organisms makes them especially vulnerable to global warming
-
ID crisis
07 May 2008
-
Soundbites
07 May 2008
-
Fuel prices hit US drivers where it hurts
07 May 2008
As oil prices rocket, a dramatic drop in greenhouse-gas emissions may result as people opt for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars
-
Do we occupy a special place in the universe?
07 May 2008
The Copernican principle has it that our corner of the cosmos is nothing special – now researchers say red shift can tell us if this is true
-
Comment: A Green Revolution for Africa
07 May 2008
With prices spiralling, hundreds of millions of people don't have enough food to eat or the means to produce it. Africa's farmers need help now, says Kofi Annan
-
Kids' hospital hallucinations not just a bad dream
07 May 2008
Children who had delusional memories during their time in intensive care had more post-traumatic stress than those that didn't
-
Slime time
07 May 2008
-
Uranium-eating fungi could clean up battlefields
07 May 2008
Fungi found in people's back gardens turns depleted uranium into an inert mineral and could help clean up after war
-
Down on the farm
07 May 2008
-
Feedback
07 May 2008
-
How flickering light could replace rubber bullets
07 May 2008
A new breed of non-lethal weapon is claimed to knock you flat, yet leave no lasting injury. David Hambling investigates
-
Commentary: The US should dismantle its nuclear weapons
07 May 2008
The US media is ignoring one of the most vital issues for our future peace and prosperity, says Lawrence Krauss
-
Aboriginal hunters raise a stink over tainted whales
07 May 2008
What is making the grey whales of Siberia smell so bad? Amitabh Avasthi investigates a marine mystery
-
Editorial: Child soldiers are no 'lost generation'
07 May 2008
The finding that former child soldiers are more politically engaged and economically productive than their peers who were not forced to fight is certainly a surprise. How should we react?
-
Hot to trot
07 May 2008
-
Can't face it
07 May 2008
-
Editorial: How to wreck a nation's scientific credibility
07 May 2008
A series of blunders and poor decisions over UK government funding of research into physics and astronomy has badly dented the nation's reputation as a scientific partner
-
Do we need to change the definition of science?
07 May 2008
Scientific truth isn't black and white – the frontiers of knowledge are sprouting a host of ideas that are seemingly impossible to falsify, says Robert Matthews
-
'Heaviest element' claim thrown into doubt
07 May 2008
Could a superheavy element, claimed to have been discovered last week, really have gone unnoticed in Earth's rocks until now?
-
Food crisis may hamper Burmese relief effort
07 May 2008
Relief agencies responding to Burma's cyclone disaster are already struggling to pay rising food bills
-
Oeufs Boltzmann
07 May 2008
-
For the record
07 May 2008
-
Genetic widget-chucking
07 May 2008
-
Nuclear future
07 May 2008
-
Why Popeye may have been right about spinach
07 May 2008
Some may scoff at the notion that spinach makes you strong, but a steroid found in leafy greens has been found to ramp up protein synthesis in muscles
-
Birds must babble before they tweet
07 May 2008
Young Zebra finches use babbling to turn their twittering into the perfect tune, just like human babies as they learn to talk
-
60 Seconds
07 May 2008
-
Evolution in action
07 May 2008
-
Review: The Future of the Internet: And how to stop it by Jonathan Zittrain
07 May 2008
Will internet security threats put an end to online innovation?
-
Review: Microcosm by Carl Zimmer
07 May 2008
This story of E.coli looks at the largest of issues from the smallest perspective
-
Review: Head Cases by Michael Paul Mason
07 May 2008
Discover the devastating worlds inhabited by the victims of traumatic brain injuries
-
Perspectives: Why humanity needs a God of creativity
07 May 2008
Complexity pioneer Stuart Kauffman on how we might think our way past the raging science vs religion war to ride out the looming global crises
-
Review: Body Shopping by Donna Dickenson
07 May 2008
From biotech firms to black-market dealers, it seems that everyone is out to profit from body parts
-
Stick to the laws
07 May 2008
-
Artificial mouth takes on chewy problem
07 May 2008
An artificial mouth has been developed that can reproduce the mush created by humans munching on an apple
-
Cuba libre
07 May 2008
-
Down on the farm
07 May 2008
-
Gizmo
07 May 2008
-
Value of nothing
07 May 2008
-
Ocean 'deserts' are increasing as planet warms
07 May 2008
Global warming is turning large volumes of ocean into oxygen deserts unable to support life
-
Kitchen carbon sink
07 May 2008
-
Magnets help spacecraft fly in formation
06 May 2008
Superconducting magnets could one day allow multiple spacecraft to fly in formation – a requirement for many next-generation science missions
-
Stomach hormone turns hungry people into junkies
06 May 2008
An appetite stimulant produced by the body causes the brain to act like that of a drug addict when thinking about food
-
Artificial mouth takes on a chewy problem
06 May 2008
The first artificial mouth able to munch on hard foods like apples could help improve food quality
-
Food crisis may hamper Burmese relief effort
06 May 2008
Relief agencies responding to Burma's cyclone disaster are already struggling to pay rising food bills
-
Warmer climate will bake tropical bugs
06 May 2008
Global warming could stop tropical insects breeding effectively, with unpredictable knock-on effects, say researchers
-
Invention: Plasma-powered flying saucer
06 May 2008
This week's new patent applications include a way to levitate a saucer-shaped vehicle, fixing damaged spines with transplants from cadavers and a way to tame tangled nanotubes
-
Comment: Putting evolutionary theory into practice
06 May 2008
Evolution makes sense of life on Earth, but it can be put to practical use too – a new journal aims to promote the science of "applied evolution"
-
First zero-carbon city to rise out of the desert
06 May 2008
The UAE, one of the world's largest oil producers, has begun construction on the first carbon-neutral city, powered entirely by renewable energy
-
Women farmers face eviction in biofuels boom
06 May 2008
Female subsistence farmers in developing countries will be moved off their land to make way for huge biofuel plantations, says the UN
-
Past patients could provide fast flu vaccine
06 May 2008
A speedy new way to make antibodies to flu could provide a treatment within weeks of the onset of a pandemic
-
Did Earth once have multiple moons?
06 May 2008
The collision that gave birth to the Moon may have produced other satellites that lingered in Earth's skies for millions of years
-
Canada to launch first space mission to hunt asteroids
05 May 2008
A suitcase-sized satellite will search for potentially dangerous asteroids – some may be hard to spot from the ground
-
Delaying data could cut net's carbon footprint
05 May 2008
Juggling the way information flows in computer networks and putting idle machines to sleep can dramatically cut power use
-
Fungi lock depleted uranium out of harm's way
05 May 2008
Contaminated battlefields could be reclaimed using common fungi, which wrap themselves around the uranium fragments and convert them to inert minerals
-
Spacecraft to fly into Sun's corona for first time
05 May 2008
A NASA spacecraft set to launch in 2015 will come eight times closer to the Sun than any previous probe, flying within its scorching outer atmosphere
-
Censorship exposed at US environment agency
05 May 2008
Political meddling at the Environmental Protection Agency is rife, a survey reveals – especially where climate change is concerned
-
Sabre-toothed 'bear' terrorised early humans
05 May 2008
A fearsome animal that disappeared about 30,000 years ago may have had the teeth of felines but it had the body and gait of a bear
-
Eye-tracking interface means gamers' looks can kill
05 May 2008
New software could let disabled users of games and virtual worlds use their the eyes alone to compete with gamers using conventional controls
-
Fat children may be tied to a lifetime of obesity
04 May 2008
Numbers of fat cells change little after adolescence, which may be why dieters find it hard to keep weight off, warn researchers
-
Enzyme could be malaria's weakest link
04 May 2008
A key enzyme used by malaria to neutralise a toxic element of blood has been identified – potentially yielding new drugs
-
Why alcohol makes you loosen up and lash out
04 May 2008
Brain scans reveal that booze completely changes the way the brain reacts to images of frightened or neutral people
-
Burying biomass to fight climate change
03 May 2008
Storing trees and plants underground might help save us from the worst of global warming, says Richard Lovett
-
Do birds see with quantum eyes?
03 May 2008
A quantum trick might be behind birds' ability to navigate using Earth's magnetic field lines, say researchers
-
Don't stop hurricanes, guide them
03 May 2008
Stopping hurricanes forming could have adverse effects on the environment, says a group set up to find ways of taming big storms
-
Earth 'noise' could attract alien invaders
03 May 2008
The signals broadcast into space by radar astronomers over the last 40 years could easily be traced back to Earth
-
Emergency 2.0 is coming to a website near you
02 May 2008
Social media websites could spell a sea change for crisis management, but how should emergency services respond?
-
Four radical routes to a theory of everything
02 May 2008
Want an ultimate theory of the universe? There's no shortage of weird and wonderful ideas, as Amanda Gefter discovers
-
Did dinosaur-killing asteroid ignite an oily tinderbox?
02 May 2008
A fireball of immature oil in rocks at the impact site could explain soot deposits around the world, say researchers
-
Has the heaviest element been found?
02 May 2008
Researchers make the controversial claim that an element heavier than anything made in the lab has been found in Earth rocks
-
Amoebas may vomit E. coli on your greens
02 May 2008
Harmless protozoa that live on grocery store vegetables can shelter deadly pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, researchers say
-
Quantum camera snaps objects it cannot 'see'
02 May 2008
"Ghost imaging" can photograph an object using light that didn't touch it – but physicists can't agree on the effect that makes it possible
-
Urban drug habits sniffed out in sewage
02 May 2008
Taking samples of sewage reveals which drugs people are using, how much they take and which days of the week they prefer to take them
-
Ancient bird is missing link to Archaeopteryx
02 May 2008
A spectacularly preserved new Chinese fossil reveals a previously unseen stage in the early evolution of flight
-
Hubble repair mission delayed
02 May 2008
A plan to service the telescope in August will be postponed at least a month due to delays in making space shuttle fuel tanks
-
Random babbling leads chicks to the perfect tune
02 May 2008
Zebra finches' random tweets gradually develop into a perfect copy of the father's virtuoso singing – and humans may learn the same way
-
Electronic 'pet' could replace passwords and PINS
02 May 2008
An advanced Tamagotchi-like gadget sustained by its owner's presence could be a more secure way to safeguard your secrets
-
Aquarid meteor shower to peak on moonless night
02 May 2008
Bits of Halley's Comet will streak into the atmosphere before dawn on Monday – a lack of moonlight will make the display especially good
-
Rover instrument to sniff out life on Mars
01 May 2008
Europe's ExoMars mission will carry an instrument called Urey, which will determine whether any amino acids on Mars were made by life
-
Growing ocean dead zones leave fish gasping
01 May 2008
Ocean "deserts" containing too little oxygen for animals to breathe are expanding, possibly as a result of global warming
-
Telescope could focus light without a mirror or lens
01 May 2008
A proposed space telescope focuses light primarily with a patterned sheet of metal – though challenging to build, it could outperform Hubble
-
Intensive care can make children hallucinate
01 May 2008
Withdrawal from the opiates and tranquilisers children receive in intensive care may result in more stress than actual treatment
-
Iron Man: The science behind the fiction
01 May 2008
The movie opens tomorrow and, unusually for a Hollywood blockbuster, features fantastic technology that is grounded in real-world science
-
Malicious hardware may be next hacker tool
01 May 2008
As if computer viruses and worms are not enough of a nuisance, malicious hardware could soon be in a computer near you
-
Poor forecasting undermines climate debate
01 May 2008
The world is warming, but how this will affect different regions remains as uncertain as ever
-
Virtual reality for flies puts humans in control
01 May 2008
A VR wind tunnel with moving images on its walls can control the movements of an untethered fruit fly and could help develop flapping robots
-
'Sexy' voice gives fertile women away
01 May 2008
Subtle changes in a woman's voice make it sound more attractive during her fertile days, say researchers