Murchison Meteorite's Chemical Bonanza The 1969 Murchison meteorite was known to harbor complex organic compounds, but a new analysis in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that it may also contain millions of chemicals and shed lig...
Finches Seek Out Sick Dining Companions A study in the journal Biology Letters finds that male finches prefer dining next to a sick bird despite the risk of infection, probably because the lethargic companion is less likely to engage in food fights....
Forcing Electrons into Superconducting Line In a study in the journal Nature researchers created a pseudo gap, in which electrons in superconducting materials line up just before flowing resistance-free. Sonya Buyting reports Imagine a world with lev...
Listening While Driving Is, What'd Ya Say? A study in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin and Review finds that not only does talking interfere with driving skills, the act of driving makes listening a much harder task. Karen Hopkin reports We all know...
Plants Put the Bend in Rivers Studies in the journals Geology and Earth-Science Reviews reveal that ancient rivers were broad straight sheets of water. Colonization by plants changed the water flow. Adam Hinterthuer reports What was around the bend i...
Men Won't Ask for Shopping Directions Either A study in the Journal of Consumer Marketing finds that men are less likely than women to ask for expert advice when shopping, in this case for wine. Karen Hopkin reports They say that men dont like to ask...
Cleopatra's Eyeliner: Peeper Health Keeper A study in the journal Analytical Chemistry finds that the black eyeliner worn by ancient Egyptians may have had properties that helped ward off eye-damaging bacterial infections. Cynthia Graber reports When...
1 Million Years B.C.: Humans Rare A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences used genomic analysis of modern humans to reveal that the population of our ancestors a million years back was below 20,000. Karen Hopkin reports At one...
French Fries on the Corny Side A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that French fries from national chain restaurants tend to be fried in corn oil, which is a less healthful alternative than other vegetable oils. Karen...
Artificial Muscle Brings Back Blink A study in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery reports the development of an artificial muscle system that could restore the ability to blink to stroke and injury patients. Cynthia Graber reports Most of us blin...
