More Stories from the November 21, 2009 issue
- Space
Solar system’s edge surprises astronomers
New observations reveal a dense ribbon structure that current models don't explain.
- Space
SuperEarths common for other stars
A mother lode of 32 newly discovered planets brings the number of known extrasolar planets to more than 400 and suggests that lightweight planets are common around sunlike stars.
- Health & Medicine
Exercise helps brains bounce back
Study of rhesus monkeys shows running protects dopamine neurons from death.
- Life
People can control their Halle Berry neurons
Researchers pinpoint individual brain cells that respond to particular people and objects.
- Earth
Johnstown Flood matched volume of Mississippi River
A modern survey of terrain determines flow rate of the 1889 flood that was one of America's deadliest disasters.
- Animals
Junk food turns rats into addicts
Bacon, cheesecake and Ho Hos elicit addictive behavior in rats similar to the behavior of rats addicted to heroin.
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- Humans
A gene critical for speech
Scientists argue a newly discovered stretch of DNA essential for larynx development may have allowed the evolution of language.
- Health & Medicine
Skin bacteria different in diabetic mice
An excessive number and low diversity of skin bacteria could explain why wounds in diabetics are slow to heal
- Life
Spiders love sweet smell of blood perfume
For on spider species, feeding on blood-gorged mosquitoes adds charm to a mate
- Health & Medicine
Psychiatric meds can bring on rapid weight gain in kids
Drugs that alleviate severe mental disorders can also result in troubling metabolic changes.
- Life
Three dino types may be just three dino ages
Study suggests three dinos placed in separate taxa are actually from one group at different growth stages
- Space
Gamma-ray observations shrink known grain size of spacetime
A new study eliminates some theories of quantum gravity by finding that spacetime isn’t as lumpy as some models had proposed.
- Life
Birds’ eyes, not beaks, sense magnetic fields
A new study pinpoints migratory songbirds’ magnetic compass in a specific brain region.
- Animals
Scent of alarm identifies male bed bugs
When mistaken for females, the guys release an alarming pheromone.
- Health & Medicine
Flu shots for moms-to-be benefit babies
Study of about 4,000 pregnant women shows link between newborn health and whether mom got vaccinated
- Chemistry
Aerosols cloud the climate picture
A NASA model incorporates how atmospheric aerosols and greenhouse gases interact, yielding better estimates of the gases' warming and cooling effects.
- Health & Medicine
Your cholesterol drug might help you weather the flu
Data suggest illness is less likely to be fatal in those taking statins
- Health & Medicine
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria strike drug of last resort
Warning signs emerge in the use of an old drug effective against resistant microbes.
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Parents’ obesity may affect children’s brains; beetle with bifocals
More news from the Society for Neuroscience meeting.
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Science Future for November 21, 2009
November 23–24Global health experts and researchers meet in Toronto to discuss swine flu. Visit new-fields.com/isfc_canada December 5–9The American Society for Cell Biology hosts its annual meeting in San Diego. See www.ascb.org/meetings December 7–18World leaders and U.N. representatives meet in Copenhagen to hash out a global climate agreement. Visit en.cop15.dk
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The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness by Alvaro Fernandez and Elkhonon Goldberg
Interviews with scientists offer practical advice and tips for maintaining brain function. SharpBrains, 2009, 166 p., $24.95. The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness by Alvaro Fernandez and Elkhonon Goldberg
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Mathematical Amazements and Surprises: Fascinating Figures and Noteworthy Numbers by Alfred S. Posamentier and Ingmar Lehmann
A book by two math professors presents number trivia that highlights math’s “gee, wow!” factor. MATHEMATICAL AMAZEMENTS AND SURPRISES: FASCINATING FIGURES AND NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS BY ALFRED S. POSAMENTIER AND INGMAR LEHMANN Prometheus Books, 2009, 269 p., $20.98.
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Botanical Medicine: From Bench to Bedside, Raymond Cooper and Fredi Kronenberg, eds.
Researchers are looking to plants to treat ailments from diabetes to dermatological problems. Botanical Medicine: From Bench to Bedside, Raymond Cooper and Fredi Kronenberg, eds. Mary Ann Liebert Inc., 2009, 237 p., $99.
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Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum
A journalist and a scientist lament ignorance of science and propose ways to fix the problem. UNSCIENTIFIC AMERICA: HOW SCIENTIFIC ILLITERACY THREATENS OUR FUTURE BY CHRIS MOONEY AND SHERIL KIRSHENBAUM Basic Books, 2009, 209 p., $24.
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The Migration of Birds: Seasons on the Wing by Janice M. Hughes
A biologist reviews the latest research on bird migration and includes high-quality photos of discussed species. THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS: SEASONS ON THE WING BY JANICE M. HUGHES Firefly Books, 2009, 207 p., $40.
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How NASA Builds Teams by Charles J. Pellerin
A former NASA scientist describes how the agency puts together the teams on which lives and budgets depend and relates tips for team management. HOW NASA BUILDS TEAMS BY CHARLES J. PELLERIN John Wiley & Sons, 2009, 261 p., $39.95.
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No Small Matter: Science on the Nanoscale by Felice C. Frankel and George M. Whitesides
Seemingly invisible objects such as viruses and molecules are imaged in rich detail through high-powered microscopes and photography. NO SMALL MATTER: SCIENCE ON THE NANOSCALE BY FELICE C. FRANKEL AND GEORGE M. WHITESIDES Belknap Press, 2009, 182 p., $35.
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Quantum Mechanics in a Nutshell by Gerald D. Mahan
A physicist presents an introduction to quantum mechanics for college and graduate-level readers. QUANTUM MECHANICS IN A NUTSHELL BY GERALD D. MAHAN Princeton Univ. Press, 2009, 399 p., $65.
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The Rising Sea by Orrin H. Pilkey and Rob Young
Coastal scientists describe the threat that higher sea levels pose to people around the world and what can be done. THE RISING SEA BY ORRIN H. PILKEY AND ROB YOUNG Island Press, 2009, 203 p., $25.95.
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- Health & Medicine
Smallpox — The Death of a Disease
The Inside Story of Eradicating a Worldwide Killer, by D.A. Henderson.
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Book Review: Dinosaurs (book series) by Matteo Bacchin and Marco Signore
Review by Janet Raloff.
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Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids by Kerrie Logan Hollihan
Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids by Kerrie Logan Hollihan A guide to demonstrations of basic physics accompanies this story of a great scientist and his famous discoveries.Chicago Review Press, 2009, 131 p., $16.95. ISAAC NEWTON AND PHYSICS FOR KIDS BY KERRIE LOGAN HOLLIHAN
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The Lives of Stars by Ken Croswell
The Lives of Stars by Ken Croswell Brilliant images and comprehensive text present the basics of stellar astronomy in an engaging fashion.Boyds Mills Press, 2009, 72 p., $19.95. THE LIVES OF STARS BY KEN CROSWELL
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V is for Venus Flytrap: A Plant Alphabet by Eugene Gagliano
V is for Venus Flytrap: A Plant Alphabet by Eugene Gagliano Young readers can explore the botanical world by browsing a plant type, feature or characteristic for each letter of the alphabet. Sleeping Bear Press, 2009, 40 p., $17.95. V IS FOR VENUS FLYTRAP: A PLANT ALPHABET BY EUGENE GAGLIANO
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Ornamental Origami: Exploring 3D Geometric Designs by Meenakshi Mukerji
Ornamental Origami: Exploring 3D Geometric Designs by Meenakshi Mukerji Older children can learn origami techniques to create beautiful and varied geometric shapes. AK Peters, 2009, 145 p., $24.95. ORNAMENTAL ORIGAMI: EXPLORING 3D GEOMETRIC DESIGNS BY MEENAKSHI MUKERJI
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3-D Explorer Oceans: A Journey from the Surface to the Seafloor by Jen Green
3-D Explorer Oceans: A Journey from the Surface to the Seafloor by Jen Green Pop-up scenes, photos and illustrations portray colorful life in the sea’s depths. Silver Dolphin Books, 2009, 32 p., $17.95. 3-D EXPLORER OCEANS: A JOURNEY FROM THE SURFACE TO THE SEAFLOOR BY JEN GREEN
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NATO committee fosters science’s role in security
Not everyone knows about Science for Peace and Security, a NATO committee with a small budget that focuses on funding civil science projects with applications to countering threats. The committee’s goal is developing high-quality knowledge in various areas relevant to antiterrorism, to other threats to security or to the priorities of the Partner Countries of […]
- Physics
Invisibility Uncloaked
In the race to make things disappear, scientists gain ground on science fiction.
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Aping the Stone Age
Chimp chasers join artifact extractors to probe the roots of stone tools.
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Letters
Slumber science Your October 24 issue featuring sleep research was very interesting and helpful. However, it did not cover any research being done — there may be none — relating to the human brain and modern changes to the nighttime environment. For most of human history, not much activity could take place at night. The […]
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Science Past from the issue of November 21, 1959
More psychiatrists today but still only 1 to 16,400 — Although the total number of psychiatrists in the United States has increased 21% in the last three years, there are still very few in proportion to the population, especially in remote regions away from the big cities.… The U.S. now has on an average one […]
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National Geographic Concise History of Science and Invention: An Illustrated Time Line by Jolyon Goddard, ed.
Photos, illustrations and essays trace the progress of discovery from ancient times to modern days. National Geographic, 2009, 352 p., $40. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CONCISE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND INVENTION: AN ILLUSTRATED TIME LINE EDITED BY JOLYON GODDARD
