March - 2008 Articles
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Starving before chemotherapy could save more lives
31 March 2008
Cancer patients might live longer and suffer fewer side-effects if they fasted before receiving the treatment, suggest tests in animals
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Laser medical scan does away with biopsies
31 March 2008
A dose of nanoparticles and an infrared laser can reveal the chemical details of disease such as cancer without a biopsy
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'Mountains' on stars could trigger gravitational waves
31 March 2008
Flattened mountains as massive as Saturn can build up on neutron stars, triggering long-sought ripples in space, a new study finds
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Invention: Diamond-cooled nuclear reactor
31 March 2008
This week's patent applications include nuclear plants cooled by flowing diamonds, better snowboard bindings, and a trick to advance the arrival of superfast spintronic computing
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Ecologists go holistic to measure ecosystem health
31 March 2008
When it comes to measuring an area's biodiversity, top predators such as tigers get all the ink, but smaller species may give a better overall picture
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US wasted billions on ineffective cholesterol drugs
31 March 2008
Public marketing campaigns boosted sales of a combination drug later found to have little effect on heart disease
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Microbes could survive meteorite smashes
31 March 2008
Experiments to test microbial life's response to the conditions of an asteroid smash boost the possibility of life travelling between planets
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Satellites could keep your secrets safe in space
31 March 2008
Photons bounced off a satellite orbiting at 1485 km have been detected on Earth, showing that quantum communication from space should be possible
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Sluggish reptile evolving at record speed
30 March 2008
New Zealand's tuatara is a slow, ponderous reptile, but DNA studies show that it is evolving at a faster rate than any other animal on Earth
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Why pollsters are flummoxed over Clinton and Obama
30 March 2008
The Clinton-Obama battle – with its overtones of race and gender – has exposed hidden flaws in the science of pre-election polling
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Chief scientist revolts over biofuel legislation
29 March 2008
A UK government scientist questions the wisdom of switching to biofuels when they may do more harm to the climate than fossil fuels
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Quantum effects could shed light on hazy images
29 March 2008
The way that entangled photons are linked could be used to screen out noise from scientific images of things like microscopic structures
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San Francisco to boast the greenest buildings
29 March 2008
The local government sets out environmental construction standards that are arguably the toughest in the US
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Stem cell growth
29 March 2008
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Whistleblowing scientists may lose promised protection
29 March 2008
Federal scientists who expose government wrongdoing may be excluded from a new US bill, say concerned groups
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Sick as a horse
29 March 2008
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Editorial: Time to talk about race
29 March 2008
We now know enough about racial discrimination to confront the issue honestly and find solutions from which everyone benefits
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For the record
29 March 2008
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Hurried safety reviews could miss drug side-effects
29 March 2008
Some of the sweetest success stories for US drug companies have turned sour in recent years – are hurried drug safety reviews part of the problem?
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Editorial: Sad truth about animal experiments
29 March 2008
The fact that animal experiments are essential to medical science does not make it any easier on the technicians who have to kill the creatures
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60 Seconds
29 March 2008
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Soundbites
29 March 2008
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'Repaired' kidneys could ease organ shortage
29 March 2008
Patching up diseased kidneys could increase the number of organs available for donation – but the method is proving controversial
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Blue LEDS could rouse sleepy drivers
29 March 2008
The light could be used to trick the brains of drowsy night-time drivers into thinking it is morning
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Gizmo
29 March 2008
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Modern-day body snatcher pleads guilty
29 March 2008
Over the course of four years, Michael Mastromarino, a former dentist, illegally sold parts from more than 1000 corpses to transplant companies
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Neanderthal body art hints at ancient language
29 March 2008
Evidence that Neanderthals painted their bodies with symbols is a strong hint that they had language to convey the meaning of these symbols
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Peahens may not prefer the flashiest peacocks tails
29 March 2008
A controversial new study suggests that Darwin's theory of sexual selection might not work in the case of the peacock's colourful tail
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Review: Flatland: The movie edition
29 March 2008
This companion to the new Flatland movie includes the full text of the original novel, the screenplay for the film and stunning colour art
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String theory's latest folly
29 March 2008
Trying to calculate the probability of Boltzmann brains is like counting angels on the head of a pin, says Lawrence Krauss
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Another MOND is possible
29 March 2008
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Beware black holes
29 March 2008
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Intelligent neighbours
29 March 2008
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Fly by rights
29 March 2008
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Approval trap
29 March 2008
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Skill supply
29 March 2008
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Depressing numbers
29 March 2008
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Accidental engineering
29 March 2008
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The science of... science
29 March 2008
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Forest options
29 March 2008
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Oxygen drain
29 March 2008
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Feedback
29 March 2008
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Leaf antlers
29 March 2008
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Review: Beyond UFOs by Jeffrey Bennett
29 March 2008
Will discovering alien life lead to peace on Earth and a reconciliation of science and religion?
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Review: Kluge by Gary Marcus
29 March 2008
Our brains have been slapped together in a MacGyver-style process of evolution
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Interview: Can't see the desert for the trees
29 March 2008
When natural resources expert Chris Reij visited Africa recently, he found mile upon mile of trees where once there was desert. He tells Fred Pearce about the farmers re-greening the Sahel against all the odds
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How global success is changing English forever
29 March 2008
The language is evolving at phenomenal speed as it is learned across the world, so how might it sound 500 or even 5000 years from now?
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Mars rover faces the axe
29 March 2008
NASA wants to cut funding for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but scientists say this means a Mars rover will have to go
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Review: Flatland: The movie on DVD
29 March 2008
This 35-minute animation brings Edwin A Abbott's classic novella Flatland to life – but with a different ending
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Particle smasher 'not a threat to the Earth'
28 March 2008
A lawsuit accusing the Large Hadron Collider of endangering humanity with mini black holes is labelled 'nonsense' by experts
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City songbirds are changing their tune
28 March 2008
Noise pollution isn't just changing the way urban birds twitter, it seems to be driving evolution too. Ed Yong listens in
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Virtual pets can learn just like babies
28 March 2008
There are few limits to what a pet can be taught in the virtual world, as long as it has someone to copy – the result could be better video game characters
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Does the Moon have a volcanic surprise in store?
28 March 2008
Planning on building a moon base? There are some places you should definitely avoid, warns Marcus Chown
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Fingernail camera makes any object a touchpad
28 March 2008
Using a simple webcam to observe blood flow in a person's fingers reveals a wealth of information about how they are touching 3D objects
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Dolphins swim so fast it hurts
28 March 2008
Powerful marine swimmers have physical limits on their speed over and above outright strength, and bony tailed tuna have an advantage
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Space elevators face wobble problem
28 March 2008
The elevator cables may need thrusters to counteract dangerous vibrations caused by gravitational tugs from the Sun and Moon, a new study argues
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Corn-based film foils food-poisoning bugs
28 March 2008
A novel packaging film made from renewable materials such as corn residues, could help stamp out Listeria and other food-borne bugs
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Electroshocking plants brings chemical rewards
28 March 2008
Exposing plants to electric currents stimulates overproduction of biochemicals and could be a cheap way of deriving useful compounds
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Anti-landmine campaigners turn sights on war robots
28 March 2008
Electronic systems that independently decide when to kill should be banned under treaties like those against landmines, a group says
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Anaesthetics shown to numb painful memories
28 March 2008
Low doses of anaesthetics can block the formation of memories associated with emotional images and may fend off post-traumatic stress disorder
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Investor puts his money into the rainforest
27 March 2008
A venture capitalist today took a huge gamble – that the environment services that sustainable forests provide will one day be worth big money
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Colour movie of giant Saturn storm released
27 March 2008
A whirling vortex at Saturn's south pole may be driven by updrafts of warm, moist air – just like hurricanes on Earth
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Rare gene defects might add up to schizophrenia
27 March 2008
People with schizophrenia may have the disease because they are unlucky enough to end up with an extremely rare combination of genes
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Stretchy circuits promise elastic gadgets
27 March 2008
The first foldable, stretchable integrated silicon circuits could allow electronics into new places, from the human brain to clothing
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Nanomaterial turns radiation directly into electricity
27 March 2008
New materials that generate power from radiation, doing away with steam turbines or heat converters, could power a new era of spacecraft
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Therapeutic cloning cures Parkinson's mice
27 March 2008
Diseased mice have been restored to health using neurons that were made by cloning their own skin cells
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Birds team up to solve food puzzle
27 March 2008
A simple puzzle shows that, like chimps, the rook can cooperate, but may lack the competitive edge needed to understand teamwork properly
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Could 'bubble' universes threaten human existence?
27 March 2008
It is the ultimate neighbour from hell – a rogue "bubble" universe that could rip into our world at any time and eat us and everything else in a flash
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Can coal live up to its clean promise?
27 March 2008
Turning the dirty black stuff into a zero-emission fuel could power us cleanly into the future. Fred Pearce checks out progress so far
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Have peacock tails lost their sexual allure?
27 March 2008
A controversial study has found no evidence for the traditional view that peahens choose their mates on the basis of the quality of their tails
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Wii and iPhone to help military control freaks
27 March 2008
Soldiers waving game remotes and iPhones on the battlefield are probably not taking it easy – they may soon use such devices to interact with robots
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Neanderthals wore make-up and liked to chat
27 March 2008
Pigment sticks discovered at various sites suggest that Neanderthals painted their bodies - and if they did that, they talked, say experts
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Space shuttle lands safely after milestone flight
27 March 2008
The shuttle Endeavour touched down after a record 12 days at the space station
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New image may reveal embryonic world
27 March 2008
An intriguing bright spot detected next to a star 470 light years away may indicate the presence of a developing planet
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Saturn's moon Enceladus surprisingly comet-like
26 March 2008
The moon's composition resembles that of a comet – a puzzle since it formed much closer to the Sun
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Big bellies may double the risk of dementia
26 March 2008
Fat that builds up around the waist during middle age may cause cognitive problems decades later, say researchers
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Hepatitis C is first target for new therapy
26 March 2008
The new type of drug attacks a molecules called microRNAs, and could target cancer, diabetes and heart disease
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'Band aid' burns to check transplant organ health
26 March 2008
The prototype patch uses heat to access fluids inside an organ, providing a simple way to check its health before transplant
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'First European' had a mountain retreat in Spain
26 March 2008
Fossils unearthed in northern Spain are around 1.1 million years old and represent our earliest known European' hominin ancestors
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Lab animal carers suffer in silence
26 March 2008
Evidence emerges of deep emotional trauma suffered by those who care for animals used for research and are then expected to kill them
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'Diet' foods may not fool the brain
26 March 2008
People who substitute calorie-free sodas for the sugary kind may be deluding themselves – mice brains can tell which one has the calories
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Hair dye may raise cancer risk for coiffeurs
26 March 2008
Male hairdressers are "probably" at greater risk from bladder cancer due to their exposure to some hair dyes, says a cancer research agency
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'Sports car' of commercial spaceflight unveiled
26 March 2008
A two-person rocket plane smaller than a private jet could be carrying tourists into space just two years from now
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Antarctic ice shelf 'hanging by a thread'
25 March 2008
A thin strip of ice, just 6 kilometres wide, is all that is holding back the collapse of a huge ice shelf in Antarctica, according to glaciologists
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Lunar Chariot prepares to tear up some moon dust
25 March 2008
NASA's Chariot is the first in a new line of lunar vehicles that could someday bulldoze roads, dig trenches, and drill for minerals on the moon
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NASA reverses budget cuts that threatened Mars rovers
25 March 2008
Last week, the agency requested $4 million in cuts to its popular rover mission – it will now take the money from another programme
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Protein 'map' of human spit created
25 March 2008
The discovery that could usher in more convenient, saliva-based diagnostic tests for a range of different diseases
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Genome is a snip at $60,000
25 March 2008
A California company has sequenced the entire genome of a Nigerian man for $60,000 plus labour
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Invention: Flapping spy vehicle
25 March 2008
This week's patent applications include designs for a micro air vehicle that flaps like a bird, a gas-laser gyroscope and a way to monitor anaesthetics with brain waves
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Carbon monoxide could fight disease
25 March 2008
Human trials suggest that low concentrations of this toxic gas can ease lung disease and inflammation
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Does a boomerang thrown in space return to its pitcher?
24 March 2008
The question sounds like a Zen koan, but a recent space station test proves one thing – the answer does not depend on gravity
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Phones with feeling are more useful
24 March 2008
Giving touchscreen phones sophisticated "haptic" feedback makes using them more efficient and less frustrating
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Shuttle Endeavour set to leave space station
24 March 2008
The shuttle Endeavour will undock from the orbital outpost late on Monday after a record-setting mission
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Mystery food poisoning traced to salads
24 March 2008
People are consuming salad greens in increasing amounts, but the rate of food poisoning from them is growing faster
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Major food source threatened by climate change
24 March 2008
Rice yields will be hit hard by predicted changes in climate, with the potential to cause widespread food shortages
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'Twisting' light packs more information into one photon
23 March 2008
How much can you say with a single photon? Until now, the limit has been 1 bit of information – a new quantum twist raises that to 1.63 bits
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Therapeutic cloning used to treat brain disease
23 March 2008
Mice with Parkinson's-like symptoms were healed using neurons made from their own cloned skin cells
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Lightning strikes governed by moving cloud layers
23 March 2008
A new theory can explain the different forms lightning takes and why it sometimes forms a "bolt from the blue" far from its source
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Conserve the moon for radio astronomy
23 March 2008
The UN should set up a quiet zone for radio astronomy on the far side of the moon, says an astronomer
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Egyptian government accused of HIV witch-hunt
23 March 2008
Since October 2007, Egypt has arrested 12 men on the basis of their HIV status, and four are already serving year-long jail terms
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Yak cheese is the healthy option
23 March 2008
Cheese from the Himalayan animals has a much higher proportion of "good fats" than cheddar made from cow's milk
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Dumped chemical weapons missing at sea
23 March 2008
Scientists call for sites of chemical weapons dumped into the oceans to be located and mapped
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Local exoplanet revealed to be sizzling hot
22 March 2008
The solar energy hitting planet HAT-P-7b reaches 3400 times that of Earth – surface temperatures may climb to 2460 °C
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Treatment forced on the mentally ill
22 March 2008
The law is already compelling people with schizophrenia to take their medicine, but doing so may not reduce the risk of violence
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California desert omitted from conservation bill
22 March 2008
A US law that would strengthen protection of 850 parcels of federal land has left out a large portion of California desert
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Recipes came about by evolution
22 March 2008
Classic recipes may well reflect evolutionary mechanisms, suggests a statistical analysis of thousands of recipes
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Pacemakers can be hijacked by radio
22 March 2008
Computer hackers could stealthily disrupt heart therapy, or administer shocks to people wearing medical implants
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Time travail
22 March 2008
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Dream physics
22 March 2008
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Save the climate by saving the forests
22 March 2008
Paying people to leave carbon locked away in the rainforests sounds like a great idea, but can it work, asks Fred Pearce
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Has the Riemann hypothesis finally been proven?
22 March 2008
A lone researcher claims to have cracked one of the most famous problems in mathematics. Is it too good to be true, asks Eric Kvaalen
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Interview: The dark world of disaster archaeology
22 March 2008
Anthropologist Richard Gould is using his skills to identify the remains of missing victims of disasters like bombings, fires and hurricanes
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Review: Cosmic Imagery by John Barrow
22 March 2008
Sometimes in science, a picture really is worth a thousand words
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Review: Bastard Tongues by Derek Bickerton
22 March 2008
A wild romp through the world of Creole languages suggests that our brains are universally wired for language
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For the record
22 March 2008
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Inflamed with Venus
22 March 2008
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Truth travels slowly
22 March 2008
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Promoting inequality
22 March 2008
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A sick environment
22 March 2008
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Missile offence
22 March 2008
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Medical devices in court
22 March 2008
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An ear for music
22 March 2008
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You have been warned
22 March 2008
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ID theft made easy
22 March 2008
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Review: The Dog Allusion by Martin Rowson
22 March 2008
Pets and religion have a lot in common, apparently
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Histories: When the internet was made of paper
22 March 2008
Paul Otlet's visionary Mundaneum was a proto-internet made of 3-by-5-inch index cards, but it has lain untouched since 1944
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Quantum randomness may not be random
22 March 2008
The quantum universe may seem random, but a closer look may reveal that it is actually predictable, says Mark Buchanan
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Departed dwarf planet left us two meteorites
22 March 2008
Two unusual meteorites found in Antarctica in 2006 came from a dwarf planet in our solar system, which has now vanished
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'Drowning' dictates how Yellowstone terraces grow
22 March 2008
A computer model has successfully predicted how the bulbous terraces around hot springs develop over time
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New drug to combat deadly parasite
22 March 2008
Schistosomiasis kills nearly 300,000 people every year, but so far only one drug is available to treat it
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How mammals lost their egg yolks
22 March 2008
Did mammals develop nutritional milk before or after they abandoned yolky eggs? A new genetic study may hold the answer
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Rising temperatures bring their own CO2
22 March 2008
The sceptics are correct on one point about CO2 – the only problem is that the point makes global warming a lot worse
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Comment: How to be happy
22 March 2008
There is now real evidence that virtue, not pleasure, is the key to happiness, says Michael Steger
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Soundbites
22 March 2008
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Being self-centred is the key to empathy
22 March 2008
The way we judge people is more egocentric than we'd like to admit, but it seems that's the key to understanding them
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60 Seconds
22 March 2008
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Mic based on fly ear can pinpoint sounds
22 March 2008
A tiny bridge between its eardrums lets a parasitic fly detect the location of a sound precisely, now a tiny microphone can do it too
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Review: Group Theory in the Bedroom by Brian Hayes
22 March 2008
If you ever lie awake pondering the complexities of the universe, this book's for you
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Plant depression
22 March 2008
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Feedback
22 March 2008
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Commentary: Between male and female
22 March 2008
A few brave individuals are changing the simplistic stereotyping that forces us all into two distinct sexes, says A C Grayling
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Behind the scenes of clinical research
22 March 2008
Team leaders, data managers, statisticians... in the world of clinical research, who does what, asks Michael Marshall
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Editorial: What was the point of Star Wars?
22 March 2008
Ronald Reagan's ambitious Strategic Defense Initiative was born 25 years ago this week. What do we have to show for it?
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Gizmo
22 March 2008
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Whale of an appetite
22 March 2008
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White House ignored air quality advice
21 March 2008
The US government is considering a proposal to allow political appointees to help draft independent scientific reports on air quality
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Stressed parents equals sick kids
21 March 2008
The children of stressed-out parents are more likely to get ill
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Universe's most powerful blast visible to the naked eye
21 March 2008
A gamma-ray burst that detonated halfway across the universe was so bright it could be seen without a telescope
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Shuttle heat shield repair test a success
21 March 2008
Spacewalking astronauts repaired sample shuttle tiles with a heat-resistant goo – the fix could prevent another Columbia disaster
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Prison-based rehab for addicts may not work
21 March 2008
Drug-free prison wings and specialised courts for drug addicts may not reduce reoffending rates, a UK report finds
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US Army toyed with telepathic ray gun
21 March 2008
A newly declassified report reveals interest in a range of non-lethal weapons, including using microwaves to create artificial fevers and beam voices into people's heads
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All eyes on Europe's Jules Verne spacecraft
21 March 2008
The spacecraft uses an unprecedented level of autonomy for its size. If it is successful, it could boost Europe's role in international space projects
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Supercontinent was too heavy to hold
21 March 2008
The Gondwana supercontinent was unstable and eventually cracked in two under its own awesome weight, according to a new model
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Stealth mutant HIV could hold key to vaccine
21 March 2008
The mutated virus can evade detection by the immune systems of resistant patients, but the changes have made it less infectious
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Chloride salts on Mars may have preserved past life
20 March 2008
The newly discovered deposits probably formed when salty lakes evaporated long ago, possibly preserving past life
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Titan's changing spin hints at hidden ocean
20 March 2008
Changes in the spin rate of the Saturn moon suggest it harbours an ocean of liquid water – which might host life – beneath its icy surface
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Melting glaciers will trigger food shortages
20 March 2008
The glaciers that feed Asia's mightiest rivers are disappearing, and with them irrigation water that feeds millions
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Volcanoes fingered for 'crime of the Cretaceous'
20 March 2008
A new analysis suggests that huge volcanic eruptions produced enough poisonous gases to kill off the dinosaurs
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Reincarnated material turns waste heat into power
20 March 2008
Destroying and then rebuilding the alloy lets it scavenge waste heat and turn it into electricity much more efficiently than existing "thermoelectric" materials
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Proto-humans walked on two legs in 6 million BC
20 March 2008
The oldest bone in the human lineage really was bipedal according to a new study, but not everyone is convinced
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Give away your money and be happy
20 March 2008
Buying people gifts or giving to charity makes people happier than spending it on themselves
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Light 'echoes' help gauge supernova's fury
20 March 2008
Astronomers have measured the power of a supernova that exploded 400 years ago, thanks to light echoes bouncing off surrounding dust clouds
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Spacewalkers to test shuttle heat shield repair
20 March 2008
Astronauts will leave the space station on Thursday to test a technique to repair the shuttle's heat shield
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People prefer robots that do small talk
20 March 2008
People get impatient when a robot takes more than 2 seconds to respond to an order, unless it fills the time with nonsense words
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Climbing robot throws its weight around
20 March 2008
The robot called Capuchin scales vertical walls using all four limbs and can shift its weight to stay balanced, like its monkey namesake
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'Virtual massage' can relieve amputees' phantom limb pain
20 March 2008
Watching someone else performing therapy on a mirror limb may trick neurons into minimising pain
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Named: 25 environmental threats of the future
20 March 2008
The list includes exotic ideas like biomimetic robots and genetically engineered viruses, as well as current problems such as extreme weather events
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Two-week-old blood no good for transfusions
19 March 2008
Patients who are given blood more than 14 days old are more likely to die, possibly because the red blood cells are breaking down
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Love stops partners from sleeping around
19 March 2008
Romantic thoughts about a regular partner help to keep us from straying into illicit sexual liaisons
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Fish stocks heading for wild swings in population
19 March 2008
When populations are low, the number of juveniles varies wildly, making it even trickier to save depleted stocks
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Japanese particle accelerator hints at 'new physics'
19 March 2008
The accelerator detected differences in how various particles decay that might help explain why the universe has more matter than antimatter
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Terahertz video transfer is foretaste of future wireless
19 March 2008
The first transmission of video using a terahertz signal offers a preview of future wireless speeds, researchers say
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Disappearing TV spectrum fetches $20 billion
19 March 2008
Wireless frequencies currently used for US television broadcasts will from 2009 provide high-speed wireless broadband
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Why men should pair off with younger women
19 March 2008
It makes evolutionary sense, as the age difference matters if you want lots of kids
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Fewer but bigger treatments best for breast cancer
19 March 2008
Radiation therapy uses a large overall dose split into lots of small fractions, but new research suggests that larger fractions work just as well
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Corals kick out housemates that can't stand the heat
19 March 2008
Some corals may be able to switch to algal co-habitants that are better able to tolerate rising sea temperatures
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Flipping particle could explain missing antimatter
18 March 2008
The way that a particle jumps between matter and antimatter in collider experiments could point to new physics
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'Squirrel Facebook' shows three degrees of separation
18 March 2008
Any two squirrels may be connected by three intermediate animals, according to a study of their social networks
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Can conflict forecasts predict violence hotspots?
18 March 2008
The policy wonks in Washington increasingly use computer models to predict political change, but do they work?
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Disease forecasts may be bad for your health
18 March 2008
Undergoing blood tests, DNA tests and whole-body scans that claim to predict future illnesses might endanger your health, doctors warn
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First unchanging 'soliton' wave found in space
18 March 2008
Solitary soliton waves, which hold their shape as they travel, appear on Earth in water and optical fibres – now one has been seen in space
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Blue LEDs to reset tired truckers' body clocks
18 March 2008
Lighting truck stops and truck cabs with eerie blue light could reset night drivers' body clocks to keep them alert
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Florida panther population fell to just six
18 March 2008
A genetic analysis suggests that in the early 20th century the cats passed through the narrowest of bottlenecks
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How mammals lost their egg yolks
18 March 2008
Did mammals develop nutritional milk before or after they abandoned yolky eggs? The primitive platypus seems to hold the answer
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Anaemia defeats malaria by sheer numbers
18 March 2008
Children with alpha thalassaemia have more red blood cells, so more survive the malaria parasite
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Acrobatic geckos steer with their tails
17 March 2008
The reptiles use their tails to cope with slippery patches on walls, and to land on their feet when they fall – the observations could help astronauts
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'Tumour factory' to accelerate cancer drug development
17 March 2008
A device that churns out identical artificial tumours should provide a more realistic way to test out experimental treatments, researchers say
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Fizzy water powered 'super' geysers on ancient Mars
17 March 2008
Like the spray of a shaken soda can, geysers of carbonated water once shot several kilometres above the Martian surface
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Sailor takes on Pacific in wave-powered boat
17 March 2008
The 7,000-kilometre voyage from Hawaii to Hino in Japan will be made using a pair of 'fins' that harvest power from beneath the boat
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Google fears Microsoft-Yahoo! deal will harm the internet
17 March 2008
The CEO of Google says the tie-up will not "be consistent with the openness of the Internet"
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Spacewalkers to outfit 'handyman' robot with tools
17 March 2008
Spacewalking astronauts will install a 'tool belt' and cameras on the space station's new robotic handyman on Monday
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Invention: Anti-ecstasy antibodies
17 March 2008
This week's patent applications include anti-bodies to clean drugs from the blood, an ultrasonic tattoo eraser and crab shell particles that treat acne
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Drug victory could save thousands from deadly worm
17 March 2008
A new system for screening chemicals has discovered a possible treatment for a killer parasite – but funds are needed to develop the drug
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'Drowning' dictates how Yellowstone terraces grow
16 March 2008
A computer model has successfully predicted how the bulbous limestone terraces around hot springs develop over time
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Reprogrammed immune cells could fight disease
16 March 2008
Two years ago, a drug safety trial left six young men critically ill – but now similar therapies may offer hope for autoimmune disease
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Physicists slam publishers over Wikipedia ban
16 March 2008
Some scientific journals prevent scientists from posting parts of their work to the online encyclopaedia, but one group of physicists want to change that
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Football fans and stadiums do not affect home wins
15 March 2008
Though massed ranks of fans and impressive home stadiums are thought to boost the moral, a study of results over 40 years reveals they do not influence the actual result
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Long-range Wi-Fi threat to satellite communications
15 March 2008
It was touted as the big hope for bridging the digital divide, but WiMAX could interfere with the developing world's TV and telephony links
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Gulf War syndrome linked to nerve gas
15 March 2008
Mounting evidence suggests that the chronic ill health suffered by many veterans of the war really was caused by the chronic effects of chemicals
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Saturn moon's rings puzzle astronomers
15 March 2008
The surprise detection of rings discovered around Saturn's moon Rhea – the first not encircling a planet – is a mystery
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Space station gets an art studio
15 March 2008
The Kibo laboratory, launched to the International Space Station on Tuesday, will allow experiments based on painting with dripping inks and water blobs
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Discovery of tiny humans stirs 'hobbit' debate
15 March 2008
Homo floresiensis is thought by some to be a new species of human – but a new find of ancient bones challenges this theory
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Supermarket sensor warns of pre-packed bugs
15 March 2008
A plastic widget that floats around in milk, soup or fruit juice cartons could tell you if it contains food poisoning bacteria – without you having to open them
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Robotic arm keeps wannabe drummers on track
15 March 2008
A robot can teach novice drummers by letting them feel the way a rhythm should be played
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Wiretapping moves into the wireless world
15 March 2008
At least one US cellphone network may have a direct link to the FBI, allowing it to wiretap calls, texts and downloads without warrants, says an industry insider.
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Comment: Religious fund isn't corrupting science
15 March 2008
There is no harm in scientists accepting funding from rich benefactors whose ideas they disagree with, says Michael Brooks
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Every week counts for premature babies
15 March 2008
As advances in neonatal care allow increasingly premature babies to survive, it is becoming clear how profoundly these children are affected by their start to life
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Drivers need a break every 80 minutes
15 March 2008
Driving on a highway for more than an hour and a half minutes without a break can seriously slow your reaction times, finds a study
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Mediterranean's 'horror' tsunami may strike again
15 March 2008
Geologists have pinpointed the fault responsible for a tsunami that killed thousands in AD 365 – and found it may happen again soon
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Perspectives: The flip side to multiple personalities
15 March 2008
Rita Carter challenges conventional theories about personality and argues that in today's complex world it may even be a good thing to have multiplicity
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The right vibe gives planes a longer life
15 March 2008
By adding "shape memory" fibres into a new composite, engineers have created a material that can avoid damaging and noisy vibration
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Ice chandeliers
15 March 2008
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How wild asses became donkeys of the pharaohs
15 March 2008
Skeletons from an ancient Egyptian burial site may represent the missing link between ass and donkey, suggests new research
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Could we hear alien physics experiments?
15 March 2008
If aliens are as technologically advanced as we are, Earth observatories may soon pick up neutrino beams emitted from their physics experiments
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Tropical ants use magnetic compass to get home
15 March 2008
Leafcutter ants use more than landmarks and celestial cues to navigate, reveals a study
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Bluetongue may infect fetuses to survive winter
15 March 2008
How the sheep and cattle virus survives the cold season in northern Europe has been unclear – now it seems bluetongue may have a trick up its sleeve
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Gizmo
15 March 2008
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60 Seconds
15 March 2008
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How 'citizen journalists' are transforming the news
15 March 2008
When everybody can be a journalist or film-maker, what happens to the media? We're finding out right now, says Dan Gillmor
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The future of television is online
15 March 2008
Digital TV is taking over, but will we still watch our televisions once cellphones and the web catch up?
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Animal analysis, aye!
15 March 2008
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Time, or no time
15 March 2008
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For the record
15 March 2008
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Sewage in the clouds
15 March 2008
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Pole position
15 March 2008
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Do we read too much into our need for sleep?
15 March 2008
We spend around a third of our lives doing it, so we assume sleep must be crucial for our survival. But that may not be the case, says Emma Young
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Tongue tied down
15 March 2008
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Defence of the hard arts
15 March 2008
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Tortures vile
15 March 2008
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G spot on the spot
15 March 2008
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Musical hairs
15 March 2008
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Review: The Kingdom of Infinite Space by Raymond Tallis
15 March 2008
There's much more to your head than just your mind, says Andrew Robinson
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Autistic automony
15 March 2008
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Soundbites
15 March 2008
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Fungal goodness
15 March 2008
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Ocker stopper
15 March 2008
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Editorial: Time for a new agricultural revolution
15 March 2008
Global food production is beset by problems – from disease to growing demand for grain – and it will take a concerted effort to head off a crisis
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Feedback
15 March 2008
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Lord of the flies
15 March 2008
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Review: Risk: The science and politics of fear by Dan Gardner
15 March 2008
You probably think most of the decisions you make are rational and not governed by emotion – they almost certainly are not
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Animal savants
15 March 2008
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Review: The Great Warming: Climate change and the rise and fall of civilizations by Brian Fagan
15 March 2008
The medieval warm period, which brought on bumper harvests but also mega-droughts and the collapse of civilisations, exposes our vulnerability to Earth's thermostat
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Commentary: Work together, save the planet
15 March 2008
We will need more international projects like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to have a chance of surviving global warming
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Review: The Oxford Companion to Cosmology by Andrew Liddle and Jon Loveday; Cosmology by Steven Weinberg
15 March 2008
Marcus Chown gets his teeth into two authoritative guides to cosmology
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Review: The Finger Book by John Manning
15 March 2008
A new book claims that the ratio of your index finger to ring finger can reveal intimate details about everything from your musical abilities to your sexuality
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Diet and delusion
15 March 2008
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Iran's firewalls tightened ahead of election
14 March 2008
Web filters have been wielded even against politicians close to the current government, say researchers studying its blocking policies
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Interview: Into Antarctica's action zone
14 March 2008
Glaciologist Robert Bindschadler braves the crevasses of Antarctica's Pine Island glacier to discover what is happening in the hot-spot where a warming ocean meets ice
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Dark matter theories vie to explain odd radiation
14 March 2008
Two competing theories claim to explain mysterious microwave radiation and gamma rays emanating from the heart of the Milky Way
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Web 3.0: Playing it safe with our data
14 March 2008
What will the next era of internet culture bring? Annalee Newitz predicts a web that's less risky but has lost its freewheeling edge
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Long-lived grannies may have fewer grandchildren
14 March 2008
A long-term analysis of births and deaths in Costa Rica questions previous work that says grandmothers are a boost to grandchildren
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Cassini probe failed to 'taste' moon's geysers in flyby
14 March 2008
In a rare mission setback, a glitch prevented Cassini's dust analyser from studying the composition of Enceladus's icy plumes
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Trapped spheres of water make perfect protein prison
14 March 2008
A material that has a love-hate relationship with water holds water droplets immobile – perfect for examining complex molecules, say researchers
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NASA's shrinking science budget worries lawmakers
14 March 2008
Members of Congress say a dwindling budget may prevent NASA from continuing all of its science projects and pulling off bold new missions
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Hijacked fetal enzyme helps cancers grow
14 March 2008
An enzyme responsible for driving the explosive growth of fetuses may explain how cancers multiply so rapidly
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GSK escapes prosecution over drug trial data
14 March 2008
A four-year investigation into the Seroxat affair has led to renewed calls for compulsory registration of all clinical trials
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Hardy Earth bacteria can grow in lunar soil
14 March 2008
Most plants can't grow in the tough soil, but resilient cyanobacteria found in hot springs can – a trait future lunar colonists could exploit
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Q&A: Boosting UK science
13 March 2008
John Denham is the man behind the UK's new 10-year strategy to boost science and innovation. Jeremy Webb went to meet him
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Creature clones itself to avoid becoming fish food
13 March 2008
When fish are nearby, sand dollar larvae have been found to split into two individuals to enhance the chances of survival
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Artificial event horizon generates Hawking radiation
13 March 2008
The first signs of an effect Stephen Hawking predicted more than 30 years ago have finally materialised from the simulated edge of a black hole
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Your height dictates how jealousy strikes
13 March 2008
The green-eyed monster grips the sexes differently, depending on how tall they are and who their love rivals might be, suggests a new study
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Relief in sight for sufferers of constant erections
13 March 2008
A condition that causes constant, painful erections in the absence of arousal may at last have an effective treatment
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Killer wheat fungus threatens starvation for millions
13 March 2008
A virulent wheat disease closing in on Asia sooner than expected has the potential to destroy crops relied upon by millions
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'Disposable' nuclear reactors raise security fears
13 March 2008
A US plan to provide developing countries with small reactors containing a lifetime of fuel continues despite fears over proliferation risks
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Brain map project set to revolutionise neuroscience
13 March 2008
An unprecedented effort to chart the human brain is launched in the US - the atlas should transform our knowledge of the brain
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Next generation of video games will be mental
13 March 2008
New brainwave-reading headsets mean at last we can control computer games with thought alone, as Duncan Graham-Rowe reports
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Genes shared with yeast could help humans fight aging
13 March 2008
The discovery of ancient "long-life" genes possessed by different species may help scientists delay both ageing and age-related diseases
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Meteorites may be remnants of destroyed dwarf planet
13 March 2008
Two rocks found in Antarctica may be chunks of a dwarf planet that was smashed apart in the early solar system
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Gulf Stream's secret is a load of hot air
12 March 2008
A tall corridor of warm air emanating from the Gulf Stream may explain its influence over Europe's weather – a discovery that could improve forecasts
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Animal epidemics: On the front line
12 March 2008
When foot and mouth disease, avian flu and bluetongue appear, who stops an outbreak turning into an epidemic? Colin Barras finds out
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Q&A: 2008 Templeton Prize winner
12 March 2008
Michael Heller, a cosmologist and Catholic priest, has won the lucrative yet controversial prize for work on whether the universe needs 'a cause'
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Nerve-tapping neckband used in 'telepathic' chat
12 March 2008
A high-tech collar that translates thought into speech by reading nerve signals has been used to make a truly private phone call for the first time
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Swarm of meteorites may solve Peru impact mystery
12 March 2008
Stony meteorites like the one that hit Peru in 2007 usually break up in the sky – new work explains how the pieces stayed together to make a crater
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Super-stretchy gel could replace damaged cartilage
12 March 2008
Shampoo polymers mixed with water yield a tough, elastic gel that could replace damaged cartilage in joints
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Brain scans reveal smokers' clouded judgment
12 March 2008
Smokers are fully aware that making a bad decision can lead to disaster, it seems they just can't act on it
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Trident missiles delayed by mystery ingredient
12 March 2008
Problems producing a dangerous and secret substance used in the nuclear warheads are slowing the refurbishment of US and UK warheads
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Interview: Beyond the BlackBerry
12 March 2008
Mike Lazaridis, the man behind the top-selling BlackBerry, is pumping his millions into blue-sky quantum physics research. He tells Paul Marks why quantum physics is essential to the future of consumer electronics
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Cassini probe to fly into Saturn moon's icy jets
12 March 2008
In a feat of derring-do, Cassini will dive into the moon Enceladus's icy plumes, perhaps revealing if they arise in a subsurface ocean
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Bug-spotting radar saves aircraft from bird strikes
12 March 2008
Software that can tell the difference between groups of birds and insects could be a boon to both air-traffic controllers and biologists
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China emissions to swamp Kyoto reductions by 2010
11 March 2008
Chinese greenhouse gas emissions will soon vastly outstrip reductions achieved by all the countries that signed up to the Kyoto protocol
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Virtual child passes mental milestone
11 March 2008
For the first time, an online computer character passes a cognitive test normally only mastered by humans at around 5 years old
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Engineers fix glitch in new space cargo ship
11 March 2008
After working through the night, engineers have restarted an electronics box that had shut itself off on the new Automated Transfer Vehicle
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Body building pill may prevent baby brain damage
11 March 2008
A supplement used by athletes to boost muscle power might help prevent brain damage and death of newborn babies from oxygen starvation
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African healthcare drain may have benefits
11 March 2008
Countries with a high proportion of doctors abroad may also have a high number at home, say researchers
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New bones suggest 'hobbits' were modern pygmies
11 March 2008
Amidst accusations of grave-robbing, researchers find bones that raise further doubts about Homo floresiensis, but some experts disagree
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TVs reinforced for those smashing Wii games
11 March 2008
Gamers using the Nintendo Wii are breaking plasma TV screens if the remote slips from their grasp mid-swing, but engineers have a solution
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Space shuttle blasts off with huge Japanese lab
11 March 2008
Endeavour blasts off to deliver a long-awaited Japanese space lab – with facilities for art and dance – to the space station
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Earthquake activity is frozen by ice sheets
11 March 2008
The weight of heavy ice sheets diminishes the likelihood of earthquakes – but look out when the ice melts
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Toxic newts lose war against 'super-immune' snakes
11 March 2008
Snakes that no longer succumb to a virulent poison may have ominous implications for the battle between humans and microbes
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How wild asses became donkeys of the pharaohs
10 March 2008
Skeletons from an ancient Egyptian burial site may represent the missing link between ass and donkey, suggests new research
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Mediterranean's 'horror' tsunami may strike again
10 March 2008
Geologists have pinpointed the fault that triggered a tsunami that killed thousands in AD 365 – and found it may happen again soon
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Black holes could bump asteroids our way
10 March 2008
Small primordial black holes in our cosmic backyard could knock asteroids out of safe orbits and towards Earth, say researchers
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Invasive species create dangerous 'genetic hotspots'
10 March 2008
An introduced snail's amazing genetic diversity suggests that we should be even more vigilant against invading species
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First South Korean astronaut to be a woman
10 March 2008
The man intended to be the first South Korean in space has been grounded for violating security protocol – a female engineer will replace him
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Robotic drumstick keeps novices on the beat
10 March 2008
A mechanical arm that guides the movements of people learning the drums is found to speed up learning
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Invention: Non-explosive hydrogen storage
10 March 2008
This week's new patents include a safer way to store hydrogen, a non-toxic wood preserver, and printable platinum electrodes for fuel cells
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Wikileaks website in the clear
10 March 2008
A court case against a site that helps whistle-blowers disseminate leaked information is dropped
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Why every home should have a cellphone mast
10 March 2008
Installing your very own cellphone base station may be the only way to ensure you can always get a line
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Is dark matter mystery about to be solved?
10 March 2008
About a quarter of the cosmos is thought to be made of dark matter, yet no one has ever found any. In 2008, that could change
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Europe's first space cargo ship blasts into orbit
09 March 2008
The 'Jules Verne' will dock with the space station without human help and boasts three times the capacity of existing cargo ships
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Radiation exposure linked to heart disease
09 March 2008
High-exposure nuclear industry staff reveal a link between circulatory disease and radiation exposure in a new study
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Whistle-blowing website is back in action
09 March 2008
Is technology outrunning the ability of the courts to regulate it? A judge who last week reinstated the website Wikileaks certainly thinks so
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Controversial nuclear club takes shape
09 March 2008
Originally rubbished by critics, the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, designed to keep radioactive fuel from "rogue" nations, has attracted a host of new members
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The microchips that could heat your home
08 March 2008
A new cooling system developed by engineers at IBM allows the waste heat from computer chips to be put to use for domestic heating
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Ancient star may prove supernova-cosmic ray link
08 March 2008
A star that exploded 340,000 years ago could prove that supernovae can transform protons into the cosmic rays permeating our galaxy
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Biofuel blends not as green as they seem
08 March 2008
An analysis of blended biofuels on sale in the US reveals that buyers may not be getting what they are paying for
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EU puts farmers in a bluetongue catch-22
08 March 2008
Unless animals in its path are vaccinated, bluetongue disease could ravage Europe's sheep country, but EU laws severely restrict the vaccine's use
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Airborne bacteria make snow to get back home
08 March 2008
An analysis of snow samples suggests that bacteria widely distributed in the atmosphere may have evolved weather-changing abilities
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Soundbites
08 March 2008
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Born what way?
08 March 2008
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An errata
08 March 2008
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Autism payout reignites vaccine controversy
08 March 2008
The US government has agreed to pay compensation over claims that a child developed autism following vaccinations, but research has found no link
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60 Seconds
08 March 2008
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Bioscience journals 'too dry' say linguists
08 March 2008
When it comes to language, biomedical journals are a sensory wasteland devoid of words that engage the senses, an analysis finds
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What's the crack?
08 March 2008
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Time travel is late
08 March 2008
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Pro-what?
08 March 2008
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Search for intelligence
08 March 2008
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Steam-boosted cars
08 March 2008
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Yo! Yo' 'yo'...
08 March 2008
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Smoking gun
08 March 2008
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For the record
08 March 2008
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Physics porn
08 March 2008
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Education hits the wall
08 March 2008
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Electric clouds
08 March 2008
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Physics porn
08 March 2008
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Review: Big Brain by Gary Lynch and Richard Granger
08 March 2008
A popular account of how brains enlarge, in both evolutionary and developmental terms
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Something eats wasps
08 March 2008
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Worm baiting
08 March 2008
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Rose-tinted vision
08 March 2008
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All alone
08 March 2008
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Editorial: Not another vaccine scare
08 March 2008
To avoid another vaccine scare it is imperative that the US government explains why it compensated parents who claim their daughter developed autism from vaccinations
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Editorial: Do bacteria control our weather?
08 March 2008
Proteins found in snow add to evidence that bacteria play a role in inducing precipitation. The intriguing question is just how big their influence is
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Feedback
08 March 2008
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Review: The Rise of Animals by Mikhail Fedonkin, James Gehling, Kathleen Grey, Guy Narbonne, and Patricia Vickers-Rich
08 March 2008
The Ediacaran was the era of the first complex fauna. This book is the definitive account of the period and a potential classic, says Jeff Hecht
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Commentary: Don't talk down antidepressants
08 March 2008
In the debate over whether antidepressant drugs work, we should avoid knee-jerk reactions and get the facts right, says A C Grayling
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Review: Confessions of an Eco Sinner by Fred Pearce
08 March 2008
Ever wondered what is fair about fair-trade coffee, or where the aluminium in cans ends up after you recycle it? Fred Pearce hunts down the answers in this compelling volume of tales
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Some of this is false
08 March 2008
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Century-old humans reveal 'long-life' genes
08 March 2008
Gene variants have been identified in centenarians that may help explain their longevity, as well as their short stature
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Alaskan gateway for first American monkey
08 March 2008
Fossil teeth show that the first monkey in the Americas crossed from Asia by the Bering land bridge
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How secure are credit-card devices?
08 March 2008
Point-of-sale machines designed to verify credit and debit cards using a PIN may be vulnerable to hardware attacks that allow crooks to steal PINs
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High-tech necklace can speak your mind
08 March 2008
A neckband stuffed with sensors can create synthesised speech when its wearer merely thinks about speaking
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Gizmo
08 March 2008
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City weeds evolving to stay close to home
08 March 2008
Urban weeds are evolving seeds that are less likely to drop onto concrete, which could amplify the genetic isolation produced by habitat fragmentation
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Comment: The pills that make us fat
08 March 2008
The side effects of psychiatric drugs are adding to the obesity epidemic, says Paula J Caplan
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Butterfly 'stare' doesn't intimidate birds
08 March 2008
Patterns on the wings of butterflies and moths might sometimes look like eyes, but that's not how they warn off birds
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Mars crater's ancient lakes may have been habitable
07 March 2008
Clay-encrusted boulders discovered in a large Martian crater point to ancient lakes that just might have hosted life
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Dark energy may just be a cosmic illusion
07 March 2008
A simple trick of gravity could open the door to a much brighter view of the cosmos
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Imagination is the key to vocal mimicry
07 March 2008
Impressionists seem to use visual images to "become" the people they are imitating, according to a brain-scanning study
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Quantum dot memory may be 'Holy Grail' of computing
07 March 2008
Memory made from tiny islands of semiconductor – known as quantum dots – could fill a gap left by today's ageing computer memory formats
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Did we learn to walk in the trees?
07 March 2008
It has long been assumed bipedalism only evolved after our ancestors came down from the trees, but now this orthodoxy is being challenged, says Dan Jones
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Controversial stem cell patent makes a comeback
07 March 2008
A key patent on human embryonic stem cells has returned from the dead – but in a form that seems less likely to stifle research
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Solar-power paint lets you generate as you decorate
07 March 2008
A coat of high-tech paint could generate power from the steel roofs and wall of buildings
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Thar she blows: Ships to get whale warnings
07 March 2008
Ship captains setting sail will soon be able to check the whale forecast – avoiding the creatures may help the survival of vulnerable species
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Dinosaurs were no strangers to climate change
07 March 2008
Fossils show that prehistoric central Siberia had a climate like modern-day Florida – with worrying implications for models of climate change
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Premature babies need more long-term care
07 March 2008
The less time a baby spends in the womb, the more likely he or she is to be disabled, according to a large study of five-year olds
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Particle race could settle dark matter debate
07 March 2008
Determining when various particles ejected from catastrophic cosmic events arrive on Earth could provide a decisive test for dark matter
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Saturn satellite reveals first moon rings
06 March 2008
Astronomers have discovered rings around Saturn's moon Rhea – the first to be observed around a moon rather than a planet
-
Floppy when wet: Sea cucumber inspires new plastic
06 March 2008
After a dunking in water, a novel rigid plastic becomes thousands of times more flexible and could be useful for brain electrodes or instant armour
-
Morphing aircraft mimics a bird on the wing
06 March 2008
A micro-aircraft with morphing wings that are based on those of the agile swift completes its first test flights in the Netherlands
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Global warming poses deaf threat to tropical fish
06 March 2008
Exposure to warmer waters makes young coral reef fish more likely to develop misshapen ear bones, with possibly fatal consequences
-
'Thirsty' electric cars threaten water resources
06 March 2008
They may not be gas-guzzlers, but electric cars have a raging thirst for water that could overstretch diminishing supplies
-
Europe's first space station cargo ship set to launch
06 March 2008
After more than three years of delays, Europe's first Automated Transfer Vehicle is due to launch to the space station
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Has 'dark fluid' saved Earth from oblivion?
06 March 2008
Spontaneous black holes threaten to undermine an alternative theory to dark matter, but "dark fluid" could save the day
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Grand Canyon flushing experiment criticised
06 March 2008
The national park's superintendent blasts government officials for ignoring scientific advice over plans to repair environmental damage in the canyon
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The cyborg animal spies hatching in the lab
06 March 2008
Scientists are creating a new generation of cyborg insects with implants that control their every move. Jessica Marshall investigates
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Histories: The 'male' military surgeon who wasn't
06 March 2008
After 140 years of speculation, the identity of the woman who spent nearly 50 years masquerading as a male army surgeon is finally uncovered
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Universe submerged in a sea of chilled neutrinos
05 March 2008
'Cosmic' neutrinos produced in the big bang fill space, according to five years of data from NASA's WMAP satellite – they can't be detected on Earth
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Mind-reading machine knows what the eye can see
05 March 2008
A device that reveals what a person sees by decoding their brain activity could soon be a reality, say researchers behind the technique
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Lost logs are a barrier to turtle breeding
05 March 2008
As if decimating rainforests isn't bad enough, it turns out industrial logging is also preventing leatherback turtles from nesting
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Weather map interface lets you feel the wind
05 March 2008
Complex climate data is easier to understand with a joystick that pushes users' hands around to represent the force of the wind and other variables
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Butterflies remember caterpillar experiences
05 March 2008
The notion that insects – including their brains – are completely rewired during metamorphosis is challenged by a study's findings
-
'Gambling DNA' helps fight online fraud
05 March 2008
Poker players try to read the faces of their opponents – now software is about to do something similar in a bid to stem fraud against poker websites
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Interview: The physicist who stood up to the pope
05 March 2008
Carlo Bernardini helped lead the recent protest against the pope's visit to a Rome university. He tells Stefania Maurizi why it is time to fight back against the Catholic church's influence on science
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Global warming may raise tundra wildfire risk
05 March 2008
Arctic tundra blazes may increase significantly as a result of changing vegetation under continued global warming, warns a study
-
Earth's rotation may account for wayward spacecraft
04 March 2008
Slight deviations in the predicted motion of a handful of spacecraft passing near Earth might be explained by the planet's rotation
-
Levitating joystick improves computer feedback
04 March 2008
A magnetically levitated controller lets you 'feel' virtual or remote objects more accurately than previous haptic devices
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China presents possible space and tech threats, US says
04 March 2008
A new Pentagon report expresses concern about Chinese activities in space and cyberspace
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Avalanches caught flowing on Mars
04 March 2008
A NASA orbiter has captured the first images of Martian avalanches – melting ice, high winds or a meteorite impact may have triggered the flows
-
Snake robot uses obstacles for propulsion
04 March 2008
A new snake-like robot can replicate a trick of real serpents, pushing off objects it encounters to move forwards
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Colliding black holes may leave infrared afterglow
04 March 2008
Powerful mergers between supermassive black holes may leave behind telltale infrared traces, making them detectable with current technology
-
Cancers inhibited by embryonic stem cell protein
04 March 2008
Human embryonic stem cells produce a protein which shows some anti-cancer properties in the lab, according to a new study
-
Quiet period could hint of impending earthquake
04 March 2008
Shallow earthquakes at night are preceded by a significant reduction in the intensity of electromagnetic waves, according to a satellite survey
-
Shockwave traffic jam recreated for first time
04 March 2008
Using a special track, researchers have recreated the phenomenon of traffic that grinds to a halt and then restarts for no apparent reason
-
First American primate scurried in through Alaska
03 March 2008
Fossil teeth show that the first monkey in the Americas crossed from Asia by the Bering land bridge
-
Urban weed seeds stay close to home
03 March 2008
City weeds are evolving to lose the fluff that enables wind dispersal – a strategy that could leave them out on an evolutionary limb
-
'Long-life' genes found in 100-year-old humans
03 March 2008
Gene variants have been identified in centenarians that may help explain their longevity, as well as their shorter stature
-
Cops can read the watermark in your hair
03 March 2008
The way isotopes in the water you drink leave a record in your hair is being used by police forces to reveal where people have lived
-
Invention: Shape-shifting dishwasher
03 March 2008
This week's patent applications include a dishwasher that can shrink to clean small loads, a human immune system in a jar, and a way to "copy-and-paste" interior lighting effects
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Dusty Wild West blamed on early settlers
03 March 2008
Agriculture and railway building caused atmospheric dust levels to soar in the American west, finds a study of lake sediments
-
Turning CO2 back into hydrocarbons
03 March 2008
The gas that's wrecking the planet could help us kick our addiction to oil, says Duncan Graham-Rowe
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Lunar eclipse may shed light on climate change
03 March 2008
The Moon's brightness during last month's eclipse shows Earth's atmosphere contains little volcanic dust, which can affect the climate
-
No compensation for faulty medical devices
02 March 2008
A US Supreme Court decision could leave patients without legal protection from faulty medical equipment
-
Iraq's legacy of looted treasures is revealed
02 March 2008
The worrying extent of the archeological plundering in southern Iraq – the "cradle of civilisation" – has been estimated in a new study
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No time to lose in cutting CO2 emissions
02 March 2008
Waiting until we have developed greener technology before cutting emissions could have deadly consequences
-
'Millionaire' tests help kids learn
01 March 2008
Replacing dry multiple-choice tests with quizzes akin to those in the TV show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire could boost comprehension levels in children
-
Commentary: What future astronomers won't see
01 March 2008
We live in the only time when it is possible to see both the universe's beginning and its end, says Lawrence Krauss
-
Crop invasion!
01 March 2008
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Dream physics
01 March 2008
-
Occam's puzzle pencil
01 March 2008
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Physics porn
01 March 2008
-
Celebrating Darwin
01 March 2008
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Physics porn
01 March 2008
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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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For the record
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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A modest proposal
01 March 2008
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Inherited personality
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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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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Clean coal and oil sinks
01 March 2008
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Born what way?
01 March 2008
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Feedback
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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Soundbites
01 March 2008
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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
-
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
-
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
-
Gizmo
01 March 2008
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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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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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Water, water, everywhere
01 March 2008
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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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Tomato attack
01 March 2008
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Rip off
01 March 2008
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Lunatic cactus
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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Born what way?
01 March 2008