Gene for Disease Has Healthy Flip Side A study in the journal Science finds that the gene for anemia-causing G6PD deficiency also protects against malaria, thereby keeping the gene active in populations. Cynthia Graber reports Sickle cell disease is...
Call Me Melville, Based on New Word Use A study in the New Journal of Physics finds that writers leave a regular, distinct pattern of how frequently they use new words. Cynthia Graber reports Thieves may leave fingerprints at the scene of a crime. Bu...
Gene Stops Ovaries from Testifying A mouse study in the journal Cell finds that a gene in females must remain active throughout her life to keep her ovaries from turning into testes. Karen Hopkin reports Little girls are made of sugar and spice and,...
Stradivari's Violin Secret? His Talent A study in the journal Angewandte Chemie that looked at the varnish used in Stradivarius instruments found nothing unusual, leading the researchers to conclude that Stradivari was just a master craftsman who had...
Caffeine Merely Masks Alcohol's Effect An animal study in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience finds that coffee after alcohol consumption might merely make the drinker feel more capable, which could lead to bad decision making. Steve Mirsky reports C...
Newspapers Worldwide Call for Climate Change Action On the first day of the Copenhagen climate conference, 56 newspapers publishing in 20 languages in 45 countries publish an unprecedented joint editorial calling for meaningful action to face the thr...
Backyard Feeders Driving Bird Evolution A study in the journal Current Biology finds that backyard bird feeders in Britain are responsible for splitting central European blackcap warblers into two distinct populations that may be on their way to beco...
Black Hole Quasar Building Galaxy A study in the journal Astronomy Astrophysics finds that a distant quasar, powered by a black hole, is building a galaxy that will eventually surround the black hole. Cynthia Graber reports Which came first, black ho...
Fitness Linked to Smartness A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that men's cardiovascular fitness at the age of 18 is a marker for later academic achievement. Karen Hopkin reports Any school kid can tell you: nerds ar...
DNA Testing to Help Sharks Keep Fins In a study in the journal Endangered Species Research, shark fins on sale were shown to be from a specific region in which shark populations have collapsed, evidence that may help change fishing regulations. Cynth...
