Podcast
60-Second Science
Leading science journalists provide a daily minute commentary on some of the most interesting developments in the world of science. For a full-length, weekly podcast you can subscribe to Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American . To view all of our archived podcasts please go to www.scientificamerican.com/podcast
Episodes
Fishy Trick Lures Life Back to Coral Reefs
Dec 05 2019
Playing the sounds of a healthy reef near damaged corals may help bring the fish community back. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Rain Forest Dwellers and Urbanites Have Consistently Different Microbiomes
Dec 04 2019
A study done in South America found that with increasing population density, humans had more diversity of fungi on the skin but less microbial diversity in the gut.
Internet Cables Could Also Measure Quakes
Dec 04 2019
The fiber-optic cables that connect the global Internet could potentially be used as seismic sensors. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from All Over
Dec 03 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Mexico to Tanzania, including one about the need to quarantine bananas in Colombia that are potentially infected by a fungus.
Subtle Ancient Footprints Come to Light
Nov 30 2019
Ground-penetrating radar can detect tiny density differences that lead to images of ancient footprints impossible to discern by eye.
Ancient Rock Art Got a Boost From Bacteria
Nov 25 2019
Indigenous artists in what’s now British Columbia created pigments by cooking aquatic bacteria. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ick Factor Is High Hurdle for Recycled Drinking Water
Nov 25 2019
Recycled wastewater can be cleaner than bottled water, but people still avoid drinking it because of their disgust over its past condition.
Bots Outperform Humans if They Impersonate Us
Nov 22 2019
Bots masquerading as humans in a game outperformed their human opponents—but the their superiority vanished when their machine identity was revealed. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Implanting Memories in Birds Reveals How Learning Happens
Nov 21 2019
Researchers activated specific brain cells in zebra finches to teach them songs they’d ordinarily have to hear to learn.
Dogs Like Motion That Matches Sound
Nov 20 2019
Pet dogs appeared more interested in videos of a bouncing ball when the motion of the ball matched a rising and falling tone. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Egyptian Vats 5,600 Years Old Were For Beer Brewing
Nov 17 2019
Archaeologists working in the ancient city of Hierakonpolis discovered five ceramic vats containing residues consistent with brewing beer.
Famously Fickle Felines Are, in Fact, Clingy
Nov 14 2019
Cats are clingier to their human owners than their reputation would suggest. Karen Hopkin reports.
Aversion to Broccoli May Have Genetic Roots
Nov 13 2019
Study subjects with a gene variant that heightened their sensitivity to bitterness tended to eat fewer vegetables than people who didn’t mind bitter flavors. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Marine Mammal Epidemic Linked to Climate Change
Nov 10 2019
A measleslike virus is ricocheting through marine mammal populations in the Arctic—and melting sea ice might be to blame. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ant Colonies Avoid Traffic Jams
Nov 08 2019
Researchers tracked thousands of individual ants to determine how they move in vast numbers without stumbling into gridlock.
Ranking Rise May Intimidate Opponents
Nov 06 2019
In an analysis of chess and tennis matches, players rising in the rankings did better than expected against higher-ranked opponents and better than similarly ranked players who were not rising.
Familiar Tunes Rapidly Jog the Brain
Nov 06 2019
Within just a third of a second of hearing a snippet of a familiar refrain, our pupils dilate, and the brain shows signs of recognition. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Nov 02 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Brazil to Hong Kong, including one about male elephants in India exhibiting unusual social behaviors.
We Owe Our Pumpkins to Pooping Megafauna
Oct 31 2019
The pumpkin’s ancestor was an incredibly bitter, tennis-ball-sized squash—but it was apparently a common snack for mastodons. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bird Egg Colors Are Influenced by Local Climate
Oct 30 2019
In cold, northern climates, eggs tend to be darker and browner—heat-trapping colors that allow parents to spend a bit more time away from the nest. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Crabs Do a Maze
Oct 29 2019
Green crabs learned to navigate a maze without making a single wrong turn—and remembered the skill weeks later. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Odd Bird Migrates Twice to Breed
Oct 24 2019
The phainopepla migrates from southern California to the desert Southwest to breed in the spring before flying to California coastal woodlands to do so again in summer.
Piranha-Proof Fish Gives Inspiration for Body Armor
Oct 24 2019
A gigantic fish from the Amazon has incredibly tough scales—and materials scientists are looking to them for bulletproof inspiration. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Galloping Ant Beats Saharan Heat
Oct 23 2019
The Saharan silver ant feeds on other insects that have died on the hot sands, which it traverses at breakneck (for an ant) speeds.
Some Mosquito Repellents Act like Invisibility Cloaks
Oct 22 2019
Synthetic repellents such as DEET seem to mask the scent of our “human perfume”—making us less obvious targets for mosquitoes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Your Skull Shapes Your Hearing
Oct 18 2019
The resonant properties of your skull can amplify some frequencies and dampen others—and, in some cases, affect your hearing. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tardigrade Protein Protects DNA from Chemical Attack
Oct 16 2019
The Dsup protein protects DNA under conditions that create caustic free radical chemicals.
"Mars-quakes" Could Reveal How Mars Was Built
Oct 16 2019
Rumblings on the Red Planet act like x-rays, allowing scientists to probe the hidden interior of Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Artificial Intelligence Learns to Talk Back to Bigots
Oct 11 2019
Algorithms are already used to remove online hate speech. Now scientists have taught an AI to respond—which they hope might spark more discourse. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nobel in Chemistry for Lightweight Rechargeable Batteries
Oct 09 2019
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to John Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.”
Nobel in Physics for Exoplanets and Cosmology
Oct 08 2019
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to James Peebles “for theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology” and to Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz “for the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star.”
Nobel in Physiology or Medicine for How Cells Sense Oxygen Levels
Oct 07 2019
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine goes to William G. Kaelin, Jr., Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza “for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability.” They identified molecular machinery that regulates gene activity in response to changing levels of oxygen.
Teeth Tell Black Death Genetic Tale
Oct 07 2019
DNA from the teeth of medieval plague victims indicates the pathogen likely first arrived in eastern Europe before spreading across the continent.
Tiny Worms Are Equipped to Battle Extreme Environments
Oct 05 2019
Scientists found eight species of nematodes living in California’s harsh Mono Lake—quintupling the number of animals known to live there. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Heat Changes Insect Call, but It Still Works
Oct 02 2019
Tiny insects called treehoppers produce very different mating songs at higher versus lower temperatures, but the intended recipient still finds the changed songs attractive.
Corals Can Inherit Symbiotic Adaptations to Warming
Oct 02 2019
Adult corals can reshuffle their symbiotic algae species to adapt to warming waters—and, it appears they can pass those adaptations on. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Brains of Blind People Adapt in Similar Fashion
Oct 01 2019
The brains of those who are blind repurpose the vision regions for adaptive hearing, and they appear to do so in a consistent way.
Science News Briefs from around the World
Sep 29 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Hungary to Japan, including one about a wine grape in France that DNA testing shows has been cultivated for almost a millennium.
Musical Note Perception Can Depend on Culture
Sep 25 2019
Western ears consider a pitch at double the frequency of a lower pitch to be the same note, an octave higher. The Tsimane’, an indigenous people in the Bolivian Amazon basin, do not.
Nature Docs Avoid Habitat Destruction
Sep 25 2019
BBC and Netflix nature documentaries consistently shy away from showing viewers the true extent to which we’ve damaged the planet. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Heat Loss to Night Sky Powers Off-Grid Lights
Sep 19 2019
A slight temperature difference at night between a surface losing heat and the surrounding air can be harnessed to generate electricity to power lights.
Early Butchers Used Small Stone Scalpels
Sep 18 2019
Homo erectus used hand axes to butcher elephants and other game. But a new study suggests they also used finer, more sophisticated blades. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Microplastics in Fresh Water Are Mostly Laundry Lint
Sep 17 2019
Microplastic particles are everywhere, but in freshwater systems, 60 percent of particles are clothing lint from laundry.
Kids Are Not Hurt by Screen Time
Sep 16 2019
A study finds no deleterious effects on mental health when kids spend their leisure time texting and engaging in other online activities.
Lab-Grown Human Mini Brains Show Brainy Activity
Sep 13 2019
As the little structures grow, their constituents specialize into different types of brain cells, begin to form connections and emit brain waves. They could be useful models for development and neurological conditions.
Eavesdropping Puts Anxious Squirrels at Ease
Sep 13 2019
Squirrels constantly scan their surroundings for hawks, owls and other predators. But they also surveil for threats by eavesdropping on bird chatter. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Earth's Magnetic Field Initiated a Pole Flip Many Millennia before the Switch
Sep 12 2019
Lava flow records and sedimentary and Antarctic ice core data show evidence of planetary magnetic field activity 20,000 years before the beginning of the last pole reversal.
Humpback Whales Swap Songs at Island Hub
Sep 11 2019
At the Kermadec Islands, humpbacks from all over the South Pacific converge and swap songs. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Food Expiration Dates May Mislead Consumers
Sep 09 2019
Better food labeling could prevent people from throwing away a lot of “expired” food that’s still perfectly edible.
Farmland Is Also Optimal for Solar Power
Sep 05 2019
The conditions of sunlight, temperature, humidity and wind that make cropland good for agriculture also maximize solar panel efficiency.
Chemical Tweak Recycles Polyurethane into Glue
Sep 05 2019
It’s not easy to recycle polyurethane, so it’s usually tossed out or burned. But a chemical tweak can turn polyurethane into glue. Christine Herman reports.
Cholesterol Climbs after Crows Chomp Cheeseburgers
Sep 03 2019
Wild animals that live near humans have higher cholesterol than their rural counterparts—and our food could be to blame. Christopher Intagliata reports.
How Hurricanes Influence Spider Aggressiveness
Aug 30 2019
As Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida, consider that feeding style means that aggressive tangle-web spider colonies produce more offspring after severe weather, while docile colonies do better in calm conditions.
Graphene Garment Blocks Blood-Sucking Skeeters
Aug 28 2019
A small patch of graphene on human skin seemed to block the mosquitoes’ ability to sense certain molecules that trigger a bite. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Martian Winds Could Spread Microbe Hitchhikers
Aug 26 2019
Microbes fly tens of miles over Chile’s dry, UV-blasted Atacama Desert—and scientists say the same could happen on Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Including Indigenous Voices in Genomics
Aug 22 2019
A program at the University of Illinois trains indigenous scientists in genomics—in hopes that future work will be aimed at benefiting those communities. Christine Herman reports.
West Point Uniforms Signify Explosive Chemistry
Aug 20 2019
U.S. Military Academy cadets wear the colors black, gray and gold for reasons found in gunpowder’s chemistry.
Secrets of the Universe Trapped in Antarctic Snow
Aug 14 2019
Scientists found an interstellar iron isotope in Antarctic snow samples—which hints that our region of the universe may be the remnant of an ancient exploding star. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Certain Personality Types Are Likely to Make a "Foodie Call"
Aug 13 2019
Some people go on dates just to score a free meal—a phenomenon known as a “foodie call.” But it takes a certain personality type. Karen Hopkin reports.
Artificial Intelligence Sniffs Out Unsafe Foods
Aug 12 2019
Researchers trained machine-learning algorithms to read Amazon reviews for hints that a food product would be recalled by the FDA. Christopher Intagliata reports.
A Computer Tells Real Smiles from Phonies
Aug 09 2019
Slight changes around the eyes are indeed a giveaway as to whether a smile is sincere or faked.
Stare Down Gulls to Avoid Lunch Loss
Aug 08 2019
Researchers slowed the approach of greedy gulls by an average of 21 seconds by staring at the birds versus looking elsewhere. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Real Laughs Motivate More Guffaws
Aug 08 2019
Honest, involuntary laughter cued people to laugh more at some really bad jokes than they did when hearing forced laughter.
Extinction Wipes Out Evolution's Hard Work
Aug 06 2019
By killing off many of New Zealand’s endemic birds, humans destroyed 50 million years’ worth of evolutionary history. Christopher Intagliata reports.
London Is Crawling with Drug-Resistant Microbes
Aug 03 2019
Nearly half of bacteria gathered in public settings around the city were resistant to two or more commonly used antibiotics, such as penicillin and erythromycin. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Male Black Widows Poach Rivals' Approaches
Aug 02 2019
Mating is risky business for black widow males—so they hitchhike on the silk threads left by competitors to more quickly find a mate. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Babies Want Fair Leaders
Jul 31 2019
Babies as young as a year and a half want leaders to fix situations in which they see someone else being treated unfairly.
Parrots Are Making the U.S. Home
Jul 31 2019
Released or escaped parrots are now living in most states and are breeding in at least 21. For some, it’s a second chance at survival.
Science News Briefs from All Over
Jul 30 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Guatemala to Australia, including one about the first recorded tornado in Nepal.
Tourist Photographs Help African Wildlife Census
Jul 25 2019
Photographs snapped by safari tourists are a surprisingly accurate way to assess populations of African carnivores. Christopher Intagliata reports.
For Ants, the Sky's the Compass
Jul 24 2019
Computer modeling revealed that insects with a celestial compass can likely determine direction down to just a couple degrees of error. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Why Two Moonships Were Better Than One
Jul 20 2019
Engineer John Houbolt pushed for a smaller ship to land on the lunar surface while the command module stayed in orbit around the moon.
One Small Scoop, One Giant Impact for Mankind
Jul 20 2019
Just before Neil Armstrong climbed back into the lunar module, he scooped up a few last-minute soil samples--which upturned our understanding of planetary formation. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Investigating the Zombie Ant's "Death Grip"
Jul 19 2019
Researchers dissected the jaws of ants infected with the Ophiocordyceps fungus to determine how the fungus hijacks the ants' behavior. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Attractive Young Females May Have Justice Edge
Jul 16 2019
Youths rated as attractive were less likely to have negative encounters with the criminal justice system—but only if they were women. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tobacco Plants Made to Produce Useful Compounds
Jul 15 2019
A proof-of-concept study got transgenic tobacco plants to make a useful enzyme in their chloroplasts, not nuclei, minimizing chances for transfer to other organisms.
Rhinos and Their Gamekeepers Benefit from AI
Jul 12 2019
Starting in 2017, an artificial intelligence monitoring system at the Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa has been helping to protect rhinos and their caretakers.
Backpack Harvests Energy as You Walk
Jul 11 2019
The pack produces a steady trickle of electricity from the swinging motion of your stuff. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Why Baseballs Are Flying in 2019
Jul 09 2019
An analysis of the 2019 edition of the Major League baseball points to reasons why it's leaving ballparks at a record rate.
Some Hot Dog Histology
Jul 04 2019
A lab analysis found that even an all-beef frankfurter had very little skeletal muscle, or "meat." So what’s in there? Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mind and Body Benefit from Two Hours in Nature Each Week
Jul 02 2019
People who spent at least two hours outside—either all at once or totaled over several shorter visits—were more likely to report good health and psychological well-being. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Scientist Encourages Other Women Scientists to Make Themselves Heard
Jun 30 2019
Geneticist Natalie Telis noticed few women asking questions at scientific conferences. So she publicized the problem and set about to make a change. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Male Bats Up Mating Odds with Mouth Morsels
Jun 27 2019
Males that allow females to take food right out of their mouths are more likely to sire offspring with their dining companions.
Scientists Fool Flies with "Virtual Tastes"
Jun 27 2019
By switching fruit flies' sensory neurons on and off with light, scientists were able to create the sensation of sweet or bitter tastes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Wheat Plants "Sneeze" and Spread Disease
Jun 26 2019
Wheat plants' leaves repel water, which creates the perfect conditions for dew droplets to catapult off the leaves—taking pathogenic spores for the ride. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Elite Runners' Microbes Make Mice Mightier
Jun 25 2019
Mice that were fed bacteria isolated from elite athletes logged more treadmill time than other mice that got bacteria found in yogurt.
Science News Briefs from around the World
Jun 24 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Canada to Kenya, including one about how humans thousands of years ago in what is now Argentina butchered and presumably ate giant ground sloths.
Antiperspirant Boosts Armpit and Toe-Web Microbial Diversity
Jun 22 2019
Rather than wiping microbes out, antiperspirants and foot powders increased the diversity of microbial flora in armpits and between toes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Monkey Cousins Use Similar Calls
Jun 18 2019
Two monkey species who last shared a common ancestor 3 million years ago have "eerily similar" alarm calls.
How Millipedes Avoid Interspecies Sexual Slips
Jun 16 2019
Millipedes, often blind, have come up with clever physical signals to ward off sexual advances from members of wrong species.
You Contain Multitudes of Microplastics
Jun 13 2019
People appear to consume between 74,000 and 121,000 microplastic particles annually, and that's probably a gross underestimate.
A Biodegradable Label Doesn't Make It So
Jun 13 2019
At the third Scientific American “Science on the Hill” event, “Solving the Plastic Waste Problem”, one of the issues discussed by experts on Capitol Hill was biodegradability.
High School Cheaters Nabbed by Neural Network
Jun 06 2019
Researchers trained a neural network to scrutinize high school essays and sniff out ghostwritten papers. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Preserved Poop Is an Archaeological Treasure
Jun 05 2019
Anthropologists found parasite eggs in ancient poop samples, providing a glimpse of human health as hunter-gatherers transitioned to settlements. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Remembering Murray Gell-Mann
Jun 04 2019
Murray Gell-Mann, 1969 Nobel Laureate in Physics who identified the quark, died May 24th.
Bonobo Mothers Supervise Their Sons' Monkey Business
May 30 2019
Some wild female bonobos introduce their sons to desirable females—then make sure their relations won’t be interrupted by competing males. Karen Hopkin reports.
Music May Orchestrate Better Brain Connectivity in Preterm Infants
May 29 2019
Preterm babies who listened to music in the neonatal intensive care unit had brain activity that more closely resembled that of full-term babies. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Icy Room Temperatures May Chill Productivity
May 24 2019
A new study suggests women's performance on math and verbal tasks increases as room temperature rises, up to about the mid 70s F. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bird Beak Shapes Depend on More Than Diet
May 22 2019
A study found that only a small percentage of bird beak shape variation is dependent on diet, with other factors like display and nest construction probably playing parts too.
Ancient Gum Gives Archaeologists Something to Chew On
May 21 2019
Chewing gums discovered in western Sweden contain the oldest human DNA found in Scandinavia. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nobelist: Harness Evolution as a Problem-Solving Algorithm
May 17 2019
Frances Arnold, the Caltech scientist who shared the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, says evolution can show us how to solve problems of sustainability.
Unread Books at Home Still Spark Literacy Habits
May 16 2019
Growing up in a home filled with books enhances enhances intellectual capacity in later life, even if you don't read them all.
Kid Climate Educators Open Adult Eyes
May 15 2019
A study finds that kids, especially daughters, are effective at teaching their parents about climate issues.
Penguin Poop Helps Biodiversity Bloom in Antarctica
May 15 2019
Ammonia from penguin poop gets carried on Antarctic winds, fertilizing mosses and lichens as far as a mile away. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ancient Whiz Opens Archaeology Window
May 13 2019
The residue of ancient urine can reveal the presence of early stationary herder-farmer communities.
U.S. Coral Reefs Do $1.8 Billion of Work Per Year
May 09 2019
By dampening the energy of waves, coral reefs protect coastal cities from flooding damage and other economic losses. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Could Air-Conditioners Help Cool the Planet?
May 06 2019
Researchers want to outfit air conditioners with carbon-capture technology. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Chemists Investigate Casanova's Clap
May 03 2019
In his memoirs, the womanizing writer Giacomo Casanova described suffering several bouts of gonorrhea—but researchers found no trace of the microbe on his handwritten journals. Karen Hopkin reports.
Software Sniffs Out Rat Squeaks
May 02 2019
Algorithms learned to sift ultrasonic rat squeaks from other noise, which could help researchers who study rodents’ emotional states. Lucy Huang reports.
New Model Aims to Solve Mystery of the Moon's Formation
May 01 2019
Scientists propose that the moon could have formed when a Mars-sized object slammed into an Earth covered in magma seas. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cats Recognize Their Names—but May Not Respond
Apr 30 2019
Felines move their ears, heads and tails more when they hear their names compared to when they hear similar words. Jim Daley reports.
Science News Briefs from All Over
Apr 27 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Liberia to Hawaii, including one on the discovery in Northern Ireland of soil bacteria that stop the growth of MRSA and other superbugs.
Hurricane Maria Rain Amount Chances Are Boosted by Climate Change
Apr 26 2019
The likelihood of an event like Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and of its massive precipitation, is fivefold higher in the climate of today than it would have been some 60 years ago
Harder-Working Snakes Pack Stronger Venom
Apr 26 2019
Snake venom toxicity depends on snake size, energy requirements and environmental dimensionality more than on prey size.
River Dolphins Have a Wide Vocal Repertoire
Apr 25 2019
Freshwater dolphins are evolutionary relics, and their calls give clues to the origins of cetacean communication in general. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Honeybees Can Put Two and Two Together
Apr 24 2019
The tiny brain of a honeybee is apparently able to calculate small numbers' addition and subtraction. Annie Sneed reports.
4/20 Traffic Accidents Claim Curbed
Apr 20 2019
A deeper data dive calls into question a 2018 study that found a spike in fatal traffic accidents apparently related to marijuana consumption on this date.
Hyena Society Stability Has Last Laugh
Apr 20 2019
Female hyenas keep their clans in line by virtue of their complex social networks. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Gluten-Free Restaurant Foods Are Often Mislabeled
Apr 19 2019
One in three gluten-free dishes tested at restaurants contained gluten—especially GF pizzas and pastas. Christopher Intagliata reports.
What Chickens Can Teach Hearing Researchers
Apr 18 2019
At an April 9th event sponsored by the Kavli Foundation and produced by Scientific American that honored Nobel and Kavli Prize winners, neuroscientists James Hudspeth and Robert Fettiplace talked about the physiology of hearing and the possibility of restoring hearing loss.
Nobelist Says System of Science Offers Life Lessons
Apr 16 2019
At an April 9th event sponsored by the Kavli Foundation and produced by Scientific American that honored Nobel and Kavli Prize winners, economist Paul Romer talked about how the social system of science offers hope for humanity and for how we can live with each other.
Squeezed Potassium Atoms Straddle Liquid and Solid
Apr 13 2019
At extreme pressures, potassium atoms can be both liquid and solid at the same time, a phase of matter known as "chain melt." Christopher Intagliata reports.
Urban Coyote Evolution Favors the Bold
Apr 12 2019
Coyotes become fearless around people in just a few generations—which isn’t good for their longterm co-existence with humans in cities. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Computers Turn an Ear on New York City
Apr 11 2019
NYU’s “Sounds of New York City” project listens to the city—and then, with the help of citizen scientists, teaches machines to decode the soundscape. Jim Daley reports.
Whitening Strips Alter Proteins in Teeth
Apr 09 2019
Hydrogen peroxide in whitening treatments penetrates enamel and dentin, and alters tooth proteins. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Infrared Light Offers a Cooler Way to Defrost
Apr 08 2019
Light tuned to a specific frequency warms ice more than water—which could come in handy for defrosting delicate biological samples. Adam Levy reports.
Spider Monkeys Optimize Jungle Acoustics
Apr 05 2019
The monkeys lower the pitch of their "whinnies" when they're far from the rest of their group, which might help the calls travel further through jungle foliage. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tennessee Whiskey Relies on Missing Ingredients
Apr 03 2019
Food chemists precisely measured how charcoal filtration contributes to Tennessee whiskey's smoother flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports.
There's a Word for Today
Apr 01 2019
English lacks some words that other languages pack with meaning.
Bumblebee Queens Prefer Layovers to Nonstop Flights
Mar 29 2019
Scientists tracked bumblebee queens with radar when they emerged from hibernation and found the bees take only brief flights en route to a new nest. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Scenic City Sights Linked to Higher Happiness
Mar 27 2019
Tracking the location and mood of 15,000 people, researchers found that scenic beauty was linked to happiness—including near urban sights like bridges and buildings. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tech's Brain Effect: It's Complicated
Mar 26 2019
We don't yet know what the immersion in technology does to our brains, but one neuroscientist says the answer is likely to be that there's good, there's bad, and it's complex.
Daylight Brings Toxic Beetles Together for Safety
Mar 23 2019
During daylight hours, hundreds of bombardier beetles of multiple species will congregate together to more effectively ward off any predators not afraid of a lone beetle's toxic spray.
Solar Jets Cause Standing Waves in Earth's Magnetic Field
Mar 19 2019
When jets of charged particles from the sun hit our magnetosphere, some of the ensuing ripples travel toward the northern and southern poles and get reflected back. The resulting interference allows standing waves to form, like on a drumhead.
Sing Solo for Higher Fidelity
Mar 19 2019
By tracking duetting choir singers, researchers found that when an individual singer's pitch drifts off tune their partner’s tend to too. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Edible Insect Breeding Led to Larger but Not Necessarily Better Larvae
Mar 15 2019
Researchers aiming to lower the cost of mealworms were able to double the worms' size, but the larger larvae had fewer eggs and weaker offspring. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Busting Earth-Bound Asteroids a Bigger Job Than We Thought
Mar 12 2019
A new model suggests smashing killer space rocks with insufficient force could let gravity pull the pieces back together. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Weekday–Weekend Sleep Imbalance Bad for Blood Sugar Regulation
Mar 11 2019
Weekday sleep deprivation with weekend make-up sleeping seems to be worse for blood sugar control than even chronic sleep deprivation alone.
Warm-Blooded Animals Lost Ability to Heal the Heart
Mar 08 2019
Thyroid hormone, which helps warm-blooded animals regulate body temperature, also appears to put a halt on heart regeneration. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Animal Migrations Track with Wikipedia Searches
Mar 06 2019
By analyzing nearly 2.5 billion Wikipedia page views, researchers found species searches reflect seasonal animal migrations and plant blooming. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Baseball Commish Talks Big Data
Mar 05 2019
At a sports technology conference, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred addressed issues including an automated strike zone and advanced analytics.
Background Music Might Stifle Creativity
Mar 04 2019
Volunteers who listened to music solved fewer word puzzles than others who worked in silence. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Mar 04 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Greenland to Palau, including one on the discovery of a trove of mummified cats in Egypt.
Budding Yeast Produce Cannabis Compounds
Mar 01 2019
Biologists have taken the genes that produce cannabinoids in weed and plugged them into yeast, making rare and novel compounds more accessible. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Who Has "the Right Stuff" for Mars?
Feb 26 2019
Humans traveling to Mars will be required to operate with a degree of autonomy human astronauts have never had, due to communication delays. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Grandma's Influence Is Good for Grandkids
Feb 25 2019
Grandmothers can enhance the survival of grandchildren. That is, unless grandma’s too old or lives too far away. Karen Hopkin reports.
Should Robots Have a License to Kill?
Feb 23 2019
Artificial intelligence experts, ethicists and diplomats debate autonomous weapons. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Warming Climate Implies More Flies—and Disease
Feb 21 2019
The incidence of foodborne illness could jump in a warming world, due to an increase in housefly activity. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Light-Skin Variant Arose in Asia Independent of Europe
Feb 19 2019
A new genetic study of Latin Americans provides evidence that gene variants for lighter skin color came about in Asia as well as in Europe. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Teach Science Process over Findings
Feb 19 2019
Seismologist and policy advisor Lucy Jones says science education needs to teach how science works more than just what it finds out.
Human Diet Drugs Kill Mosquitoes' Appetite, Too
Feb 16 2019
When researchers fed mosquitoes a drug used to treat people for obesity, the insects were less interested in hunting for their next human meal ticket. Karen Hopkin reports.
Grazing Deer Alter Forest Acoustics
Feb 15 2019
Deer populations have exploded in North American woodlands, changing forest ecology—and how sounds, like birdsong, travel through the trees. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Elephant Weight Cycles with New Teeth
Feb 15 2019
Elephants have six sets of teeth over their lives, sometimes two sets at once. At those times, they can extract more nutrition from food and put on weight.
Finally Over for Mars Rover
Feb 13 2019
The rover Opportunity has called it quits after working for more than 14 years on Mars.
Our Brains Really Remember Some Pop Music
Feb 12 2019
Although millennials' memory of recent pop tunes drops quickly, their ability to identify top hits from the 1960s through 1990s remains moderately high. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Biologists Track Tweets to Monitor Birds
Feb 09 2019
Conservation biologists can track the whereabouts of endangered species by the sounds they make, avoiding cumbersome trackers and tags. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Desalination Could Cause Ecological Sea Change
Feb 07 2019
An environmental assessment of the nation's largest desalination plant finds mixed results. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Different Humpback Whale Groups Meet to Jam
Feb 07 2019
Humpback populations from the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet up south of Africa and trade song stylings.
Targeting Certain Brain Cells Can Switch Off Pain
Feb 04 2019
By turning off certain brain cells, researchers were able to make mice sense painful stimuli—but not the associated discomfort. Karen Hopkin reports.
Neandertal Spears Were Surprisingly Deadly
Jan 31 2019
Javelin throwers chucking replicas of Neandertal spears were able to hit targets farther away, and with greater force than previously thought to be possible. Christopher Intagliata reports.
"Rectenna" Converts Wi-Fi to Electricity
Jan 30 2019
Researchers built a small, flexible device that harvests wi-fi, bluetooth and cellular signals, and turns them into DC electricity. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from the World Over
Jan 29 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Papua New Guinea to Kazakhstan, including one on the slow slide of Mount Etna in Italy.
Cod Could Cope with Constrained Climate Change
Jan 28 2019
Cod egg survival stays high with limited warming, but plummets when the temperature rises a few degrees Celsius in their current spawning grounds.
Intimate Hermit Crab Keeps Shell On
Jan 26 2019
A species of hermit crab appears to have evolved a large penis to enable intercourse without leaving, and thus possibly losing, its adopted shell.
Ecologists Eavesdrop with Bioacoustics
Jan 24 2019
By coupling audio recordings with satellite data and camera traps, ecologists can keep their eyes—and ears—on protected tropical forests. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Saturn's Blingy Rings Are a Recent Upgrade
Jan 24 2019
Though Saturn formed about 4.5 billion years ago, its rings were added relatively recently—only 100 million to 10 million years ago. Karen Hopkin reports.
Do-Gooders Should Survey Communities First
Jan 23 2019
Detroit residents declined an offer of free street trees—but were more willing to accept them if they had a say in the type of tree. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Viewing This Weekend's Lunar Eclipse
Jan 19 2019
A total lunar eclipse will grace the skies this Sunday, January 20—and it may or may not be red. Christopher Intagliata reports.
"Mona Lisa Effect" Not True for Mona Lisa
Jan 18 2019
The Mona Lisa effect is the illusion that the subject of a painting follows you with her gaze, despite where you stand. But da Vinci's famous painting doesn't have that quality. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ants Stick to Cliques to Dodge Disease
Jan 16 2019
Ants infected with fungal pathogens steer clear of other cliques within the colony—avoiding wider infection, and allowing for a sort of immunity. Lucy Huang reports.
Mistimed Migration Means Bird Death Battles
Jan 13 2019
Climate change is shifting population numbers and nest building by resident and migratory birds in Europe—sometimes leading to deadly conflict. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Monogamy May Be Written in Our Genes
Jan 12 2019
In animal studies, a set of 24 genes involved in neural development, learning and memory, and cognition, seem to be associated with monogamy. Karen Hopkin reports.
Seeing Superman Increases Altruism
Jan 10 2019
Subject who saw a Superman poster were more likely to offer help than were people who saw another image.
Inhaled RNA Might Help Heal Cystic Fibrosis
Jan 09 2019
Scientists are working to correct a genetic defect in cystic fibrosis patients by having them inhale RNA. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Invisible Killers Hitchhike on Native Plant Seedlings
Jan 05 2019
More than a quarter of the seedlings sampled at native plant nurseries were infected with pathogens—which could hamper restoration work. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Facebook Users Value the Service More Than Investors Do
Jan 03 2019
Users of the social network said they'd require payment of more than $1,000 to quit the platform for one year. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News from around the Planet
Dec 31 2018
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Germany to Rwanda, including one on the discovery of the world's oldest known brewery, discovered in Israel.
Turn Xmas Tree into Food and Medicine
Dec 30 2018
Pine needles can easily be broken down into sugars as well as the building blocks of paint, adhesives and medicines. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Simple Sugars Wipe Out Beneficial Gut Bugs
Dec 27 2018
Fructose and sucrose can make it all the way to the colon, where they spell a sugary death sentence for beneficial bacteria. Karen Hopkin reports.
Smarter Pricing Could Ease Parking Frustration
Dec 27 2018
A new algorithm raises parking rates in busy neighborhoods and lowers them elsewhere, guaranteeing free parking spots regardless of location. Christopher Intagliata reports.
"Hunger Hormone" Ghrelin Aids Overindulgence
Dec 25 2018
Ghrelin, the hormone that makes you hungry, also makes food, and food smells, irresistibly appealing. Karen Hopkin reports.
Colorful Peacocks Impress Females with Good Vibes
Dec 24 2018
Peafowls' head crests are specifically tuned to the vibrations produced by feather-rattling male peacocks, thus acting as a sort of antenna. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Measuring the Strength of a Person's Gaze
Dec 24 2018
A new study suggests that, unconsciously, we actually do believe that looking exerts a slight force on the things being looked at. Karen Hopkin reports.
"Relaxation Music" Works—but So Does Chopin
Dec 22 2018
So-called "relaxation music" is only about as effective as a soothing Chopin piece at lulling listeners into a relaxed state. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bone Building Needs Bit of Breakdown First
Dec 21 2018
The hormone irisin encourages bone remodeling, in part by first triggering another substance that encourages some bone breakdown.
Frog Picks Maternity Ward Like Goldilocks
Dec 20 2018
The Bahia's broad-snout casque-headed tree frog needs a pool to raise its young that's just right.
You Gotta Scratch That Itch
Dec 19 2018
A particular set of brain neurons may be behind registering itch and inducing us to scratch.
Join Blue Planet II Live-Tweet
Dec 14 2018
Starting December 16, ocean scientists will live-tweet the BBC documentary series Blue Planet II, available via Netflix.
Big-Boned Chickens May Be Humans' Geologic Legacy
Dec 13 2018
Millions of years from now, the geologic record of the "Anthropocene" will be littered with plastics, yes, but also chicken bones. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ancient Marine Reptiles Had Familiar Gear
Dec 12 2018
Ichthyosaurs had traits in common with turtles and modern marine mammals, like blubber and countershading camouflage. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Little Aphids Ride Big Ones to Safety
Dec 12 2018
When trouble lurks, juvenile aphids drop off of the plants they're eating and hitch a ride on bigger aphid escapees.
Utah's Deserts Are Bee Hotspots
Dec 09 2018
The Trump administration is shrinking Utah's desert monuments, stripping some federal protections for wild pollinators. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Who's a Smart Dog?!
Dec 07 2018
An estimate of dog intelligence requires looking at non-dogs as well to understand what's special to canines and what is just typical of the taxonomic groups they're in.
Data Reveals Most Influential Movies
Dec 06 2018
By analyzing the network connections between 47,000 films on IMDb, researchers found the most influential films ever made. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Blue Whales Have Changed Their Tune
Dec 01 2018
In the last few decades blue whale calls have been getting lower in pitch—and a rebound in their numbers may be the reason. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Smart Meters Speed Showers
Nov 27 2018
Smart meters on showerheads encouraged hotel guests to conserve—even though they personally saved no money. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mars Mission Makes Clean Landing
Nov 26 2018
The sounds of the Mars InSight Mission control room during the tense minutes leading to the landing on the surface.
Do Wine over Those Brussels Sprouts
Nov 22 2018
Taking a swig of red wine before eating Brussels sprouts appears to moderate Brussels sprouts' polarizing flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports
Rains Bring a Microbial Massacre to Chilean Desert
Nov 20 2018
Freak heavy rainstorms in 2015 and 2017 wiped out many dry-adapted microbes in the Atacama Desert, useful info in the search for life off Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Consensual Hugs Seem to Reduce Stress
Nov 18 2018
People who had a conflict in a given day but also got hugged were not as affected by the negative interaction as were their unhugged counterparts.
World's Largest Organism Faces Bleak Future
Nov 17 2018
The single organism that is the Utah aspen grove known as Pando is on the decline due to herbivores wiping out its youngest tree outgrowths
U.S. Immigrants Leave Country—and Microbes—Behind
Nov 15 2018
Immigrants to the U.S. lose their native mix of gut microbes almost immediately after arriving in the U.S.—which researchers can't quite explain. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from All over
Nov 14 2018
A few very brief reports about international science and technology from Alaska to Indonesia, including one on offshore dairy farming from the Netherlands.
Babies and Chimps Share a Laugh
Nov 11 2018
Adult humans laugh primarily on the exhale, but human babies laugh on the inhale and the exhale—as do chimps. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Singing Fish Reveal Underwater Battles in the Amazon
Nov 09 2018
Researchers recorded piranha "honks" and catfish "screeches" in the Peruvian Amazon, which might illuminate fish activity in murky jungle waters. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Social Construct of Race Imposes Biology
Nov 08 2018
Anthropologist Jennifer Raff argues that race is culturally created, but has biological consequences.
Pandas Swoon to Particular Croons
Nov 07 2018
Listening to the sounds panda pairs make when they're introduced could lead to better breeding success. Christopher Intagliata reports.
First Benefit of Knowing Your Genome
Nov 02 2018
The "low hanging fruit" of genome-related health care will be knowing which drugs are likely to treat you best, says science journalist Carl Zimmer.
For Halloween, Consider the Chocolate Midge
Oct 31 2018
A tiny fly, related to biting no-see-ums, pollinates cacao trees and enables our chocolate cravings. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Dolphins Dumb Down Calls to Compete with Ship Noise
Oct 30 2018
Bottlenose dolphins simplify and raise the pitch of their whistles to be heard above underwater shipping noise. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Asocial Octopuses Become Cuddly on MDMA
Oct 22 2018
Octopuses react to MDMA much like humans do. And not surprisingly, given their anatomy, the animals are excellent huggers. Annie Sneed reports.
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Oct 21 2018
A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe, including one from Mongolia on horse dentistry.
Wild Songbirds Can Pick Up New Tunes
Oct 19 2018
Researchers taught two dozen wild sparrows new songs, by playing them the recordings of sparrows that live thousands of miles away. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Health Care Let Neandertals "Punch above Their Weight"
Oct 18 2018
By caring for their sick and injured, Neandertals were able to expand into more dangerous environments and pursue more deadly prey. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nice People Have Emptier Wallets
Oct 16 2018
A study correlating personality traits with financial data found that agreeable people had lower savings, higher debt and higher bankruptcy rates. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Solar Eclipse Was a Buzzkill for Bees
Oct 13 2018
Bees suddenly fell silent when the sun disappeared during last year's solar eclipse—perhaps because they were tricked into night mode. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Confident Tone Overcomes Accent Distrust
Oct 12 2018
English as-a-first-language Canadian study subjects were less trusting of statements in English spoken with a foreign accent, unless the speaker sounded confident about their assertion.
Mom's Genes Make Some Giraffes Hard to Spot
Oct 10 2018
Baby giraffes inherit aspects of their mothers' patterning—which could give them a survival advantage if good camouflage runs in the family. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Economics Nobel Highlights Climate Action Necessity
Oct 09 2018
William Nordhaus shared the 2018 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, "for integrating climate change into long-run macroeconomic analysis,” with Paul Romer, "for integrating technological innovations into long-run macroeconomic analysis."
Highway Crossings Protect Migrating Pronghorns—and Motorists
Oct 06 2018
Twice a year, thousands of pronghorn antelope and mule deer migrate through Wyoming, and newly built highway crossings are sparing the lives of animals—and motorists. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Beer Fermentation Hops Along
Oct 05 2018
The bittering agents called hops have enzymes that chew up starch and unleash more fermentable sugar—which can boost alcohol and CO2 in the finished brew. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nobel in Chemistry for New and Useful Chemical Entities via Evolutionary Principles
Oct 03 2018
Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Gregory P. Winter share the 2018 chemistry Nobel for developing evolutionary-based techniques that lead to the creation of new chemical entities with useful properties.
Nobel in Physics for Controlling Laser Light
Oct 02 2018
Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland share the 2018 physics Nobel for their work with lasers that have led to numerous practical applications, such as eye surgery.
Nobel for Helping the Immune System Fight Cancer
Oct 01 2018
James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo share the Nobel Prize for their work on harnessing the cancer patient's own immune system to destroy tumors.
Blasey Ford Spells Out Trauma Memory Formation
Oct 01 2018
Christine Blasey Ford's professional expertise came into play during her testimony regarding the Supreme Court nomination.
Scanning Ancient Civilizations from the Skies
Sep 27 2018
An aerial laser scan of more than 800 square miles of Guatemalan jungle revealed Maya buildings, canals, roads and bridges. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Antifreeze Surface Fights Ice with Ice
Sep 26 2018
Patterning a surface with tiny stripes of ice prevents frost formation on the rest of the surface—a technique that could keep planes or roads frost-free. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Scale Can Measure Medicine—and Play a Scale, Too
Sep 25 2018
Researchers have designed a musical instrument that can detect counterfeit drugs by the pitch of its notes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Diverse Tree Portfolio Weathers Droughts Better
Sep 22 2018
Forests with numerous tree species, and therefore a mix of water-management strategies, appear more tolerant of drought. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Pirates Needed Science, Too
Sep 19 2018
On International Talk Like a Pirate Day, here's an eye-patch-witness account of how science helps in all peg-leg walks of life, even piracy
Sea Otters' Powerful Paw Prey Perception
Sep 19 2018
The marine mammals have extraordinarily sensitive touch—which helps them nab prey in the absence of other sensory cues. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from Around the World
Sep 17 2018
A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.
Genetic Tweak Gave Early Humans a Leg Up
Sep 13 2018
A mutation in a key gene may have endowed humans with superior endurance—allowing them to compete better with other animals on the savanna. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Earlier Springs May Mean Mistimed Bird Migrations
Sep 12 2018
Springtime's arriving earlier across North America. But the degree of change isn't the same everywhere, which could spell trouble for migratory birds. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Survey the Wildlife of the "Great Indoors"
Sep 11 2018
Biologists are enlisting citizen scientists to poke around under the sink and behind the curtains, for wildlife living in the "great indoors." Karen Hopkin reports.
When Neutron Stars Collide
Sep 07 2018
Astrophysicists have gotten a better glimpse at what happens to crashing neutron stars by listening in on the electromagnetic echoes of the collision. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bonnethead Sharks Are Underwater Lawn Mowers
Sep 06 2018
The hammerhead relatives consume copious amounts of sea grass, and have the digestive machinery to process it—making them true omnivores. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Hurricane Is a Natural Selection Experiment
Sep 06 2018
When Hurricane Irma blew through the Turks and Caicos, lizards with shorter hindlimbs lucked out. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Pasta Problem Cracked!
Sep 05 2018
An intrepid undergrad led the way to understanding the physics of snapping strands of spaghetti.
Science News You Might Have Missed
Aug 31 2018
A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.
Pineapple Waste Won't Be Wasted
Aug 27 2018
Costa Rican scientists are extracting valuable materials from the peel and stubble of pineapples.
Sometimes Mosquitoes Are Just Thirsty
Aug 24 2018
Mosquitoes want your blood for its proteins...or simply to hydrate on a hot, dry day.
Robot Bartender Will Take Your Order
Aug 23 2018
Digital assistants have to respond quickly, but correctly—so researchers are studying how real humans navigate that trade-off, to design better machines. Christopher Intagliata reports.
As Spring Arrives Earlier, Arctic Geese Speed Up Their Migration
Aug 22 2018
The birds are arriving in the Arctic up to 13 days earlier than they used to. But at a cost: hunger. Annie Sneed reports.
Freeloading Ants Help the Workflow
Aug 21 2018
Fire ants tunnels got excavated efficiently by only a small percentage of the group doing most of the work, thus avoiding pileups in tight spaces.
Ancient Americans Bred Symbolically Important Scarlet Macaws
Aug 20 2018
Genetic information from the bones of macaws found in abandoned pueblos suggests they were bred and distributed as a commodity. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Rising CO2 Means Monarch Butterfly Bellyaches
Aug 17 2018
Milkweed grown with more carbon dioxide in the air supplies fewer toxins to monarch butterflies that need the toxins to fight off gut parasites.
For Some Crows, Migration Is Optional
Aug 16 2018
Crows are what's known as "partial migrants"—as cold weather approaches, some crows fly south whereas others stay put. And that behavior appears to be ingrained. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Plants Dominate the Planet's Biomass
Aug 15 2018
About 80 percent of Earth's biomass is plant life, with humans about equal to krill way down the heft chart.
Solar Eclipse of 2017 Boosted Science Interest
Aug 14 2018
The Michigan Scientific Literacy Survey of 2017 found that last year's total solar eclipse got Americans more interested in celestial science.
Crickets Carve Tools to Amplify Their Chirps
Aug 14 2018
The insects fashion and use "baffles"—sound controllers—made of leaves to produce sound more efficiently. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Computerized Chemical Toxicity Prediction Beats Animal Testing
Aug 11 2018
Researchers programmed a computer to compare structures and toxic effects of different chemicals, making it possible to then predict the toxicity of new chemicals based on their structural similarity to known ones.
Better Data Could Mean Better Dating
Aug 10 2018
Both men and women tended to pursue mates just 25 percent more desirable than themselves — suggesting they are "optimistic realists." Christopher Intagliata reports.
To Evolve Baleen, Lose Your Teeth First
Aug 09 2018
Whale ancestors probably never had teeth and baleen at the same time, and only developed baleen after trying toothlessness and sucking in prey.
Corn Variety Grabs Fertilizer from the Air
Aug 07 2018
A variety of corn from Oaxaca, Mexico, has aerial roots that harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing the corn to suck nitrogen straight from the air. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Birds Learn Safety from Other Kinds of Birds
Aug 03 2018
Birds become good at avoiding danger by eavesdropping on the alarm calls of other birds—and the learning occurs without even seeing their peers or predators. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Microbes Share Your Morning Metro Commute
Aug 02 2018
An analysis of the Hong Kong metro found microbes, including some with antibiotic resistance genes, freshly disperse throughout the system each day. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Oh Say Can You See Subtle Details?
Aug 01 2018
Different people have differing aptitudes for observing small changes and particular features.
Some Crows Hit On Dead Companions
Jul 31 2018
About 5 percent of crows will attempt to copulate with other crows that have joined the choir invisible .
Mouth Sets Healing Standard
Jul 30 2018
Certain proteins that coordinate the healing response are present at higher levels in oral tissue—meaning wounds in the mouth fix faster. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Border Wall Could Disrupt Hundreds of Species
Jul 26 2018
More than 2,500 scientists signed a letter saying that an expanded U.S.–Mexico border wall would threaten both biodiversity and scientific research. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Turn a Wall into a Touch Screen Cheap
Jul 26 2018
Researchers used a couple of hundred dollars worth of materials to turn a wall into a giant touch screen
Ancient Tooth Tartar Traps Clues to Iron Age Diet
Jul 24 2018
By analyzing the proteins in ancient dental plaque, archaeologists determined that British menus almost three millennia ago featured milk, oats and peas. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Honey Bee Alarm Signal Could Protect Elephants
Jul 23 2018
Chemicals designed to simulate honeybee alarm pheromones could deter elephants from farmers’ crops, easing conflicts with humans. Annie Sneed reports.
Sea Level Rise Could Inundate the Internet
Jul 20 2018
Extreme sea level rise could swamp internet cabling and hubs by 2033—and coastal cities like New York, Seattle and Miami are at greatest risk. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Astronomy Tool Helps ID Sharks
Jul 20 2018
Shark researchers used a system for recognizing patterns in star field photographs to identify whale sharks, which have individual spot patterns.
Mammals Moonlight around Human Settlements
Jul 19 2018
A study of human–mammal interaction across the globe found animals are more prone to take to the night around humans. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Jupiter's Moon Total Hits 79
Jul 17 2018
The International Astronomical Union reports that there are now 79 known Jovian moons, with a dozen found last year.
Moths Evade Bats with Slight of Wing
Jul 17 2018
Some moth species have evolved long wing tails that flutter and twist as the moth flies, which distract hungry bats. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News You Might Have Missed
Jul 14 2018
Very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.
Smart Mouth Guard Senses Muscle Fatigue
Jul 13 2018
A prototype flexible electronic mouth guard can measure lactate levels in an athlete’s saliva, tracking muscle fatigue during training and performance.
Favorite Wine Grapes May Need Genetic Help
Jul 11 2018
Wine book author Kevin Begos explains that just a few varieties of wine grapes dominate the industry, which leaves them vulnerable to potentially catastrophic disease outbreaks.
Iridescence Could Help Critters Hide in Plain Sight
Jul 07 2018
Iridescence appears to break up the recognizable shape of objects—making them harder to spot. Karen Hopkin reports.
Primate Conflicts Play Out in the Operating Room
Jul 05 2018
By analyzing 200 surgeries, anthropologists found mixed-gender operating room teams exhibited the highest levels of cooperation. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Sharks Make a Splash in Brooklyn
Jul 05 2018
Visitors can see and learn about sharks and their environment in the new "Ocean Wonders: Sharks!" facility at the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium.
City Life Favors Downsized Invertebrates
Jul 04 2018
Most invertebrates get smaller on average in cities, although a few very mobile species respond to urbanization by growing.
People Ration Where They Roam
Jul 03 2018
An analysis of the movement of some 40,000 people suggests most of us frequent only 25 places—and as we sub in new favorites, we drop old ones. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Humans Can Size One Another Up with a Roar
Jun 29 2018
Listeners to a person letting loose with a roar can accurately estimate the size and formidability or the human noise maker. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Piano Lessons Tune Up Language Skills
Jun 26 2018
Six months of piano lessons can heighten kindergartners' brain responses to different pitches, and improve their ability to tell apart two similar-sounding words. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cardinal Rule: Female Birds Sing, Too
Jun 26 2018
Many people assume only male birds do the singing. But females also sing in at least 660 species and perhaps many more.
Bird's Song Staying Power Implies Culture
Jun 22 2018
Certain motifs in swamp sparrow songs can last hundreds, even thousands of years—evidence of a cultural tradition in the birds. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Alaskan Beluga Whales Ace Hearing Exam
Jun 22 2018
Researchers tested the hearing of beluga whales in an Alaskan bay and found that they seem to have suffered little hearing loss due to ocean noise. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Fat–Carb Combo Is a Potent One–Two Punch
Jun 20 2018
Foods high in both carbs and fats tickle the brain’s reward circuits more so than snacks that showcase just one or the other. Karen Hopkin reports.
Jupiter Crackles with Polar Lightning
Jun 18 2018
Juno spacecraft data suggest lightning on Jupiter is much more common than we thought—but it congregates near the poles, not the equator as on Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Coral Reefs Keep Costly Waves at Bay
Jun 15 2018
A new analysis found the flood protection benefits of coral reefs save the global economy $4 billion dollars a year. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Hippo Dung Fouls Up Freshwater Fisheries
Jun 15 2018
Hippo poop is piling up in Tanzania’s freshwater fisheries—which is bad news for biodiversity, and deleterious for the dinner plate. Jason G. Goldman reports.
A Litmus Test for Bad Breath
Jun 14 2018
Researchers engineered a portable device that detects even the tiniest trace of hydrogen sulfide—one of the primary offenders in bad breath. Karen Hopkin reports.
Prez (of AMA) Issues Call to Arms-Science
Jun 12 2018
At the AMA annual meeting the organization's president petitioned for an evidence-based, science-driven analysis of gun violence and solutions.
Powder Pulls Drinking Water from Desert Air
Jun 08 2018
A structure known as a metal organic framework traps water vapor by night, then releases it when heated the next day. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ancient Clan War Explains Genetic Diversity Drop
Jun 06 2018
Some 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, the diversity of Y chromosomes plummeted. A new analysis suggests clan warfare may have been the cause. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Saying "This May Hurt" May Make It Worse
Jun 06 2018
Warning a child that something, like a vaccine shot, will hurt can actually increase their perception of the pain.
Mongooses Gift Grooming for Guard Duty
Jun 02 2018
Humans and other primates often reciprocate good deeds. A new study suggests a nonprimate, the dwarf mongoose, does so, too, even after a delay. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Some Trees Beat Heat with Sweat
May 31 2018
During extreme heat waves, a species of eucalyptus copes by releasing water and taking advantage of evaporative cooling. Other trees may do the same.
Computers Go Head-to-Head with Humans on Face Recognition
May 30 2018
The best facial-recognition algorithms are now as good as the best forensic examiners are. But the best results come by combining human and computer skills. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Pinnipeds Don't Appreciate Biped Disturbance
May 30 2018
Sea lions and fur seals in Uruguay have become a tourist attraction—but the animals have become less, not more, accepting of humans. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Computers Predict Pop Chart Success
May 25 2018
An evolutionary analysis of pop tunes revealed that over the past 30 years songs have grown sadder—but the big hits buck that trend. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Doc's YA Novel Treats Life-and-Death Issues
May 23 2018
Pediatric cardiologist Ismée Williams discusses her young adult novel, Water in May, about a teenage girl whose newborn has a life-threatening heart condition.
Google's AI Assistant Does Your Talk Tasks
May 17 2018
The new Google AI voice assistant, called Duplex, highlights the intricacies of carrying out a mundane human-style conversation, as it keeps you off the phone.
Great Ape Makes Good Doc
May 16 2018
Orangutans were observed to use plant extracts to treat their own pain.
Stool-Pigeon Poop Reveals Bird-Racing Fouls
May 16 2018
Racing pigeons is big business—and doping is common. Now scientists have devised a way to detect doping in the avian athletes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Radar Scans Detail North Korean Nukes
May 15 2018
Scientists have added radar info to seismic data, isotope measurements and optical imagery to study covert nuclear tests. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Hunting Rules Have Changed Mama Bear Care
May 12 2018
Hunting regulations in Sweden prohibit killing brown bear mothers in company of cubs—causing mama bears to care for their young longer. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Jupiter and Venus Squeeze Earth's Orbit
May 10 2018
Sediment records have confirmed that Jupiter and Venus change Earth's orbit from virtually circular to noticeably elliptical and back every 405,000 years. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mars Lander Will Peer Inside the Red Planet
May 08 2018
The InSight Mission will look at Mars's seismic activity and latent heat to find out more about how planets get made--and how humans might live there.
Plants Can Sense Animal Attack Coming
May 07 2018
Tomato plants detected snail slime in soil near them and mounted preemptive defenses, even though they were not directly touched.
Archaeologist Makes a Case for Seafaring Neandertals
May 05 2018
Ancient tools on Mediterranean islands could predate the appearance of modern humans—suggesting Neandertals took to the seas. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Africa: Future Worldwide Science Hub
May 03 2018
Thierry Zomahoun, president of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, talks about the potential and needs of science on the continent.
Healthful Eating Requires Supermarket Smarts
May 01 2018
Advice from an N.Y.U. food policy symposium: eating healthfully means you can't ever let down your guard when shopping.
Culture Shapes Kids' Views of Nature
Apr 29 2018
In a study of children interacting with toy animals Native American kids and non-Native kids imagined the animals very differently.
Bad Audio Can Hurt a Scientist's Credibility
Apr 28 2018
Listeners gave more credence to a scientist’s radio interview when the audio was good quality than they did to the same material when the audio was poor. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bill Gates Announces a Universal Flu Vaccine Effort
Apr 27 2018
Today in Boston, Gates announced a $12-million initiative to foster the development of a vaccine effective against all flu strains.
Drumming Beats Speech for Distant Communication
Apr 25 2018
The Bora people in the northwestern Amazon use drums to send languagelike messages across long distances. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bees Have a Goldilocks Lawn Mow Schedule
Apr 24 2018
Lawns mowed every two weeks hosted more bees than lawns mowed every three weeks. Jason G. Goldman reports.
If Singing's Tough, Try Whistling
Apr 21 2018
A new study claims it's easier to accurately whistle a melody than to sing it. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Traffic Deaths Increase after 4:20 P.M. on 4/20
Apr 19 2018
A look at a database of fatal traffic accidents found a 12 percent increase on the informal marijuana holiday 4/20 after 4:20 P.M. compared with nearby dates.
NYC Mice Are Packed with Pathogens
Apr 19 2018
Mice trapped in New York City apartment buildings harbored disease-causing bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mine Social Media Posts to Predict Flu
Apr 18 2018
Researchers used Twitter searches for nonflu words associated with behavior to predict flu outbreaks two weeks in advance.
Planting Milkweed for Monarchs? Make Sure It's Native
Apr 17 2018
Non-native milkweed species planted in the southern U.S. could harm monarch butterflies as temperatures rise. Jason G. Goldman reports.
The Internet Needs a Tune-Up
Apr 13 2018
Princeton University's Jennifer Rexford talks about optimizing the internet for the uses it got drafted into performing.
Glacier Suddenly Goes Galloping
Apr 12 2018
Researchers try to figure out why every 20 years a Pakistan glacier moves roughly 1,500 times faster.
Some Habitable Zone Exoplanets May Get X-Rayed Out
Apr 12 2018
Red dwarfs are a popular place to hunt for small exoplanets in the habitable zone—but the stars' radiation bursts might fry chances for life as we know it. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Right Whales Seem to Think before They Speak
Apr 10 2018
Rather than always making the same call in response to the same stimuli, North Atlantic right whales are capable of changing their vocalizations.
Old New England Underground May Be Spry after All
Apr 08 2018
The U.S. Northeast may be more geologically active than was previously thought, according to a seismic sensor network.
Brain Scan Might Reveal Appetite for Risk
Apr 07 2018
Volunteers willing to place riskier bets tended to sport larger amygdalas—a region associated with processing fear. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Neandertal Face Shape Was All Over the Air
Apr 04 2018
The jutting midface of Neandertals seems to have evolved to help get large volumes of air into an active body that needed lots of oxygen.
Rev Up Photosynthesis to Boost Crop Yields
Apr 03 2018
Photosynthesis actually is an inefficient process, but a biological chemist is trying to crank it up.
13,000-Year-Old Footprints under West Coast Beach
Apr 01 2018
Several feet below a beach in British Columbia, archaeologists discovered soil trampled by human feet—the oldest footprints found so far in North America. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Math Cracks a Knuckle-Cracking Mystery
Mar 29 2018
The source of knuckle cracking sounds is much debated—but new mathematical models may reconcile two opposing views. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Rotting Flesh Offers Insight on Fossilization
Mar 26 2018
To learn more about decay and fossilization, researchers conduct unorthodox experiments—like dissecting decomposing animals in the lab. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ravens Crow with Individual Flair
Mar 24 2018
Ravens produce different types of calls depending on their age and sex—which might help ravens size up other individuals. Jason G. Goldman reports.
U.S. Flu Spread Counts On Southern Cold Snaps
Mar 21 2018
A multifactorial analysis finds that the ignition of a flu epidemic stems from a blast of colder weather striking an otherwise warm, humid, urban environment, and driving people indoors into close quarters.
Louise Slaughter Was Congress's Food Safety Champion
Mar 21 2018
Upstate New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, who worked for decades on issues such as overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and food safety in general, died March 16 at the age of 88.
Arctic Heat Waves Linked to Snowpocalypse-Like Storms
Mar 19 2018
An analysis of more than six decades of daily temperature and snowfall data linked warmer arctic temperatures to cold snaps at lower latitudes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Gut Parasites Have Their Own Gut Microbiomes
Mar 16 2018
The whipworm lives in the human gut, mooching microbes from its host to build its own microbiome. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Drones Could Help Biologists Tally Birds
Mar 13 2018
Counting by drone not only saves time and effort, but yields better data on species numbers—a definite plus in terms of conservation. Karen Hopkin reports.
Saliva Protein Might Inhibit Intestinal Anarchy
Mar 10 2018
A protein found in spit prevents bad bugs from binding to intestinal cells in the lab, pointing to a possible way to lower the chances of dysentery. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Searching the Heavens for Mountains
Mar 09 2018
Exoplanet hunters are moving beyond simply finding new planets into trying to know what they look like and whether there's surface or subsurface activity.
Human Echolocators Use Tricks Similar to Bats
Mar 07 2018
People who use echolocating mouth clicks to compensate for low vision increase the number and intensity of clicks when objects are harder to detect. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Animal Coloration Can Serve Double Duty
Mar 06 2018
The cinnabar moth caterpillar's coloration pattern warns predators close up, but camouflages the critter from a distance.
Some Lichen Fungi Let Genes Go Bye
Mar 02 2018
A study of 22 different types of lichens revealed 10 included fungi that had lost a gene for energy production, making them completely dependent on their algal partner.
To See Gun Injury Drop, Hold an NRA Meeting
Feb 28 2018
When the National Rifle Association holds its national convention, gun injuries drop 20 percent—perhaps because fewer gun owners are around their guns. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Big Cities Have Fewer Tweeters Per Capita
Feb 27 2018
But those who do tweet in big cities are more prolific—tweeting more often, on average, than their small-town counterparts. Christopher Intagliata reports.
How Baby Birds Learn to Duet
Feb 23 2018
Recordings of songbird duets reveal baby birds learn conversational turn-taking like we do: gradually, and from adults. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mosquitoes Learn the Smell of Danger
Feb 22 2018
The bloodsuckers lose their appetite for attractive scents when they associate those aromas with a likelihood of being swatted. Karen Hopkin reports.
Needed: Info on Biodiversity Change over Time
Feb 21 2018
Understanding an ecosystem means following changes in the abundances and identities of the species present as the clock ticks. The BioTIME database should help.
Undersea Recordings Reveal a Whale's Tale
Feb 19 2018
By eavesdropping on the calls of blue whales, researchers hope to get a more accurate picture of the massive mammals' distribution and abundance. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Seabird Feathers Reveal Less-Resilient Ocean
Feb 16 2018
By analyzing 130 years of seabird feathers, researchers determined that food webs are losing complexity in the Pacific—meaning less-resilient ecosystems. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Beetle Liberation Due to Regurgitation
Feb 14 2018
The bombardier beetle can spray its hot brew of toxic chemicals even after bring swallowed, to force a predator into vomiting it back out.
Old Trees Are Ecosystem Gold
Feb 13 2018
David Lindenmayer of the Australian National University College of Science in Canberra says that older trees play outsize roles in maintaining landscapes and ecosystems.
Boat Noise Means Fish Can't Learn Their Lessons
Feb 11 2018
Damselfish had trouble learning to avoid predators, when that lesson was accompanied by a soundtrack of buzzing boat engines. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Woodpeckers Drum to Their Own Tunes
Feb 07 2018
The length and spacing of woodpecker drum rolls varies enough to tell woodpeckers apart—which could be useful to conservation biologists. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Homebodies Economize on Energy Use
Feb 06 2018
Today’s work-from-home, on-demand culture means more days at home—and translates into greater energy savings, too. Karen Hopkin reports.
Killer Whale Culture Revealed by Mimicking Us
Feb 03 2018
Orcas can imitate calls from other whales and even human speech—suggesting they can transmit cultural practices, such as unique dialects. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Holiday Cheer Leads to Birth-Rate Spike
Feb 02 2018
During feel-good holiday periods like Christmas and Eid-al-Fitr, romance strikes—leading to a boom in births nine months later. Karen Hopkin reports.
Ticks on Uptick Where Big Game Declines
Feb 01 2018
Areas of Kenya without large wildlife saw tick populations rise as much as 370 percent—meaning more danger to humans. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Wildfires Spike Wine with Smoky Notes
Jan 30 2018
Chemists are working on ways for wildfire-affected winemakers to avoid creating smoky wines. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Lion Conservation Challenges Giraffe Protection
Jan 26 2018
Having lions and giraffes together in protected areas means far lower survival rates for juvenile giraffes. Jason Goldman reports.
Nobelist Crafts Light-Switchable Antibiotics
Jan 26 2018
Drugs modified by chemistry Nobel laureate Ben Feringa can be turned on and off by light, which could help keep bacteria from developing antibiotic resistance.
Catching Flu Also Boosts Heart Risk
Jan 25 2018
Researchers found a sixfold increase in heart attacks in patients in the week following a flu. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Worldwide Effort Says Together Science Can
Jan 23 2018
Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, talked about worldwide scientific collaboration today at the World Economic Forum.
Canada Geese Taking a Winter Staycation
Jan 22 2018
The geese are wintering farther and farther north, in urban areas like Chicago—which may help them avoid hunters. Emily Schwing reports.
Moon's Tug Doesn't Cause Big Quakes
Jan 20 2018
An analysis of more than 200 earthquakes over the past four centuries concludes there's no connection between moon phases and big earthquakes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Social Media Helps ID Spew Source
Jan 19 2018
Surveillance of Yelp restaurant reviews for terms like vomit led researchers to the sources of foodborne illness outbreaks. Karen Hopkin reports.
Salmonella Could Have Caused 16th-Century Epidemic
Jan 18 2018
Using a new algorithm, geneticists uncovered the pathogen that could have caused a massive epidemic in the Aztec empire: Salmonella bacteria. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Which Came First, the Proboscis or the Flower?
Jan 13 2018
A new fossil find reveals that the sucking tongue of butterflies—or proboscis—appears to have evolved before the emergence of flowers. Christopher Intagliata reports.
You Live in a Strange Solar System
Jan 11 2018
Astronomers found that other star systems tend to host similarly sized exoplanets—far different from ours. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Glow Sticks Help Ecologists Study Amphibians
Jan 10 2018
Ecologists needed a way to more easily keep track of populations of amphibians, and green glow sticks lit the way.
Air Force Tracks Final Frontier
Jan 04 2018
General Jay Raymond, Commander of Air Force Space Command, talks about keeping watch over space and cyber.
You Traveled Far Last Year
Jan 03 2018
Getting around the sun in 2017 was a memorable trip.
Finches Can Learn to Sing Differently Than Their Genetics Dictate
Dec 30 2017
The song training that Bengalese finches received appeared to overcome tempo tendencies baked into their genes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Baby Bats Can Learn Different Dialects
Dec 29 2017
Fruit bats raised hearing different pitches of sounds vocalized in keeping with their aural environment as they matured.
Mongoose Societies Are Skeptical of Strangers
Dec 24 2017
It takes months for members of a mongoose breeding society to trust newcomers with important tasks like watching for predators. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Pain and Weather Fail to Connect
Dec 24 2017
A big data analysis involving more than 1.5 million patients could find no relationship between weather and complaints to doctors about joint or back pain.
Finding Further Places for Solar Panels
Dec 23 2017
Siting solar panels over rooftops, parking lots, reservoirs and contaminated land could generate heaps of energy—with minimal effects on agriculture or the environment. Christopher Intagliata reports.
This Fish Emits Damaging Decibels
Dec 21 2017
The Gulf corvina produces a chattering chorus that’s one of the loudest underwater animal sounds on the planet. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Repetitive Sounds Are Music to the Brain
Dec 19 2017
Repeating something can render that thing melodious—even the sound of a shovel being dragged across the pavement. Karen Hopkin reports.
Radiation Might Help Heart Regain Its Rhythm
Dec 17 2017
A flash of radiation drastically reduced arrhythmia in a small group of patients, for at least a year after treatment. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Dark Fiber Networks Can Sense Seismicity
Dec 16 2017
Scientists are exploring the use of fiber-optic cables—like the ones that form the backbone of the internet—to monitor earthquakes. Julia Rosen reports.
Supermarket Snacking Boosts Sales
Dec 15 2017
Noshing while shopping convinces consumers to buy the featured product more often than does simply seeing end-of-aisle displays. Karen Hopkin reports.
Something Clicks for Dolphin Identification
Dec 14 2017
Machine-learning algorithms teased seven distinct dolphin clicking patterns from a library of more than 50 million clicks, identifying one species by sound alone. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nutrition Guidelines Healthy for the Planet, Too
Dec 12 2017
Following dietary guidelines would mean eating less meat and dairy—and fewer calories overall—reducing greenhouse gases and other pollution. Julia Rosen reports.
Invading Beavers Turn Tundra to Ponds
Dec 11 2017
New beaver ponds in the Arctic may contribute to the destruction of the permafrost that holds that landscape together.
Sharks Rule the Reef's Underwater Food Chain
Dec 10 2017
When sharks prowl shallow waters, fish quit foraging and hide—sparing seaweed from being grazed in those areas. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Ancient Women Had Awesome Arms
Dec 10 2017
For thousands of years, women in agricultural societies seem to have had arms stronger than members of modern rowing teams.
Invasive Frogs Don't Bug Hawaiian Birds
Dec 08 2017
Coquí frogs are invasive species in Hawaii. But they don’t seem to bug the islands’ native and nonnative birds. Jason G. Goldman reports.
How Hospitals Can Dampen the Decibels
Dec 08 2017
Hospitals consistently score low on quietness surveys. An acoustician suggests a few ways hospitals could keep the peace and quiet. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Smarter Management Means More Inventions Get to Market
Dec 06 2017
Rosemarie Truman, CEO of the Center for Advancing Innovation, says a better system of governance for federally funded inventions could lead to many more good ones becoming commercialized.
Computers Learn to Use Sound to Find Ships
Dec 06 2017
Researchers trained machine-learning algorithms to pinpoint the location of a cargo ship simply by eavesdropping on the sound of its passing. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Yeti Claims Don't Bear Up
Dec 04 2017
Analysis of alleged yeti samples found them to be from less fantastic beasts, such as bears, but also shed light on the evolution of those local bear populations.
Republican Voters Not in Denial about Climate
Dec 02 2017
An analysis of voter opinions finds that half of Republican voters think climate change is happening, and would support regulating CO2 as a pollutant. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tech Honcho Wants Innovation for the Bottom Billion
Dec 01 2017
At the World Conference of Science Journalists in October, Nathan Myhrvold, co-founder of Intellectual Ventures, charged innovation outfits with changing the lives of the world's most disadvantaged.
Bumper Stickers Make Highways More Social
Nov 30 2017
A social scientist studies how car stickers turn the roads into actual information highways.
Chimps Able to Apprehend Another Chimp's Mind-Set
Nov 28 2017
By listening to the calls of their brethren, chimps seem to be able to understand the mind-sets and perspectives of other chimps. Jason Goldman reports.
Even without Hands Honeybees Show Handedness
Nov 27 2017
About half the honeybees in a test exhibited no sidedness, but the other half was split 50–50 between righties and lefties—perhaps to navigate obstacles more efficiently.
Humpback Whale Flippers Do More Than Maneuver
Nov 26 2017
Researchers attached cameras to humpback whales and found that they flap their flippers to help power forward swimming.
A New Recipe for Counting Cranberries
Nov 23 2017
Estimating cranberry harvests involves tedious hand-counting. But microwave analysis could change all that. Christopher Intagliata reports.
How Fit Is Bitcoin?
Nov 22 2017
A new analysis treats bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies as species in an evolutionary model—and finds bitcoin has no selective advantage. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Salmon Sex Changes Entire Landscape
Nov 20 2017
Salmon excavate streambed holes in which to lay eggs, setting off a chain of events that has surprisingly large geographical effects.
Ancient 1 Percenters Were Beast-Based
Nov 17 2017
New World societies long ago likely had less income inequality than those in the Old World, and the difference might have been an oxen gap. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Feathers Help This Bird Sound the Alarm
Nov 16 2017
The crested pigeon, found in Australia, has a modified wing feather that helps produce an alarm signal sound to warn other birds when there's trouble.
Put Space Cat on a Pedestal
Nov 15 2017
A campaign calls for the creation of a statue to recognize Félicette, the first cat to be sent into space.
Polluted Water Whale Invents New Feeding Strategy
Nov 13 2017
The Bryde's whale has come up with a passive but more efficient feeding strategy in the hypoxic waters of the Gulf of Thailand.
Insect Brain System Knows What You Want
Nov 10 2017
Computer scientists borrowed insights from the fruit fly brain to create a more accurate search algorithm. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Sheep's Face-Reading Skills Stand Out from the Flock
Nov 09 2017
With some training, sheep were able to select a celebrity's face over that of a stranger they'd never seen. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nearby Exoplanets Invigorate the Search for E.T.
Nov 08 2017
SETI pioneer Jill Tarter and Berkeley researcher Dan Werthimer talk about how the discovery of nearby exoplanets is inspiring new efforts to gain info about these galactic neighbors.
Bison Comeback Story Has a Bronx Accent
Nov 04 2017
On National Bison Day, a look at the role the Bronx played in reestablishing herds of bison on the American plains.
Mammoth Remains Seem Mostly Male
Nov 04 2017
In a sample of 98 woolly mammoth remains, researchers found that 70 percent were male—which suggests males were more likely to die accidentally. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Physics Phenomenon Reveals a Pyramid's Mystery
Nov 02 2017
Scientists used muons, a by-product of cosmic rays, to image the interior of the Great Pyramid—and found a previously unknown space inside. Christopher Intagliata reports.
A Moth with a Potent Cocktail of Poison
Nov 02 2017
The wood tiger moth is the first species known in which fluids from various parts of the moth’s body each target a different type of predator. Jason Goldman reports.
Drought News Might Help Cut Water Waste
Oct 28 2017
As news coverage of California's most recent drought intensified, water use trends went down—suggesting news might inspire consumers to conserve. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Smog Casts a Shadow on China's Solar Farms
Oct 26 2017
The wintertime smog in China's northeastern provinces is so severe it blocks more than 20 percent of sunlight from reaching the region's solar panels. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Dogs Bow to Wolves as Cooperators
Oct 24 2017
Wolves appear to have better cooperation skills than dogs—unless the pups partner up with humans. Karen Hopkin reports.
California Gun Injuries Spike after Nevada Gun Shows
Oct 24 2017
Firearm deaths and injuries went up in California communities after gun shows in neighboring Nevada—but not after more strictly regulated California gun shows. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mosquitoes to Other Flying Insects: Do You Even Generate Lift?
Oct 21 2017
Mosquitos stealthily float off us after filling up, by virtue of fast wingbeats that generate almost instant lift with only an imperceptible additional push from the legs.
Keep Your Wi-Fi off KRACK
Oct 20 2017
Up-to-date software, apps, browsers and router software offer the best protection against a potential flaw in wi-fi security called a key reinstallation attack, or KRACK.
Ships at Sea Stoke Lightning Strikes
Oct 18 2017
Exhaust fumes from oceangoing vessels lead to an almost doubling of lightning activity over shipping lanes compared to adjacent areas of the sea.
Gamers Wanted to Attack Food Toxin
Oct 16 2017
By playing the online game Foldit, players might help design an enzyme that can stop aflatoxins from making millions sick.
Even Jellyfish Need a Nap
Oct 14 2017
Jellyfish exhibit signs of a sleep state, which could mean that sleep predates the evolutionary development of central nervous systems.
Squirrels Chunk Their Buried Treasure
Oct 13 2017
Under certain circumstances squirrels will bury all of the same kind of nut near one another, a mnemonic strategy known as chunking.
Cougar Calls Get Big Bear Reactions
Oct 12 2017
Black bears and cougars share the Vancouver countryside, but not happily.
Biometric Identifies You in a Heartbeat
Oct 07 2017
Like fingerprints and facial recognition, the shape and beat of your heart can be used to verify your identity. Christopher Intagliata reports.
When We Fly to Mars, Microbes Will, Too
Oct 06 2017
The microbes that live in and on our bodies will colonize a human-manned spacecraft to Mars—but will the spacecraft's microbiome be safe? Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nobel in Chemistry for Seeing Biomolecules in Action
Oct 04 2017
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution.
Nobel in Physics for Detecting Gravitational Waves
Oct 03 2017
The Nobel Prize in Physics goes to Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne "for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves".
Nobel in Physiology or Medicine for Our Inner Clocks
Oct 02 2017
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017 was awarded to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young for discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythms.
Electric Eels Increase Shock by Leaving Water
Oct 02 2017
Submerged electric eels lose current to water, so they apparently leap into the air to minimize their contact with water and maximize their shock value.
Australian Bird Dips Its Dinner
Sep 30 2017
A chance observation led researchers to add the Australian Magpie to the short list of birds that dunk their food in water before eating.
Tsunami Sent Species on a Transoceanic Trip
Sep 28 2017
The 2011 east Japan tsunami swept huge amounts of wreckage out to sea—and Japanese species hitchhiked across the Pacific on the debris. Christopher Intagliata reports.
1 Sneeze, 1 Vote among African Wild Dogs
Sep 27 2017
Individuals in packs of African wild dogs appear to sneeze to make their wishes known regarding when to get up and hunt.
This Frog Can't Hear Its Own Calls
Sep 24 2017
The frogs' calls are too high-pitched for the frog to detect, which may be an artifact of evolution. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Building a Better Mirror for Telescopes
Sep 22 2017
More reflective telescope mirrors allow astronomers to capture more photons —and do more science. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Galaxies Far, Far Away Send Us Highest-Energy Cosmic Rays
Sep 21 2017
A new study hints that the most energetic particles ever seen come from far beyond the Milky Way.
Springtime Now Arrives Earlier for Birds
Sep 21 2017
A trove of scientific notes from the early 1900s suggests a warming climate is driving birds to migrate earlier to New York’s Mohonk Preserve. Julia Rosen reports.
Warming Puts Squeeze on Ancient Trees
Sep 18 2017
As temperatures rise, the tree line moves upslope. But ancient bristlecone pines are losing that upslope race to faster-colonizing neighbors. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Rising CO2 Pushes Plants to Drink Sparingly
Sep 16 2017
As carbon dioxide levels rise, plants are sipping water more efficiently—which could come in handy in a drier future. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cannibalism Quells Contagion among Caterpillars
Sep 13 2017
Cannibalistic caterpillars prevent disease from decimating their populations by removing infected individuals. Emily Schwing reports.
Feds Want to Know Who's Protesting Trump
Sep 12 2017
Internet hosting company DreamHost is battling the U.S. Justice Department over requests for information about people visiting a Web site for organizing protests. Larry Greenemeier reports.
Windows Vex Bats' Echolocating Abilities
Sep 07 2017
Smooth vertical surfaces like windows reflect sound waves away from bats—meaning bats can't "see" windows and similar obstacles with echolocation. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Wetlands Could Save Cities--and Money, Too
Sep 06 2017
Using insurance industry models, researchers determined that wetlands prevented some $625 million in damages due to Hurricane Sandy. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Rabbit Relatives Reel from Climate Change
Sep 02 2017
Pikas, a hampster-size rabbit relative, have disappeared from a 64-square-mile plot in the northern Sierra Nevada—and climate change is a likely culprit. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Winking Star 6 Centuries Ago Explained
Sep 01 2017
A star that appeared and then vanished in A.D. 1437 was an explosion in a binary star system—which now reveals clues about the life cycle of certain stars. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Grazing Cattle Trim the Menu for Birds
Aug 30 2017
When cattle graze the desert's natural landscape, birds face changes in food availability—and some species are unable to adapt. Jason Goldman reports.
Climate Change Might Shrink Fish
Aug 30 2017
Warmer water boosts fishes' demand for oxygen—and their bodies may shrink in response. Christopher Intagliata reports.
A Fruitful Experiment in Land Conservation
Aug 25 2017
In 1998 an orange juice maker dumped 12,000 tons of orange peels on degraded pastureland in Costa Rica—transforming it into vine-rich jungle. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Recycle Your Eclipse Glasses
Aug 24 2017
Astronomers Without Borders wants to share your used eclipse glasses with kids in other parts of the world for the 2019 total solar eclipse.
Seeing 1 Solar Eclipse May Not Be Enough
Aug 19 2017
David Baron, author of the new book American Eclipse, talks about how seeing his first total solar eclipse turned him into an eclipse chaser.
Solar Eclipse in 1097 May Be Rock-Carving Subject
Aug 18 2017
A petroglyph spotted in Chaco Canyon may depict a total solar eclipse witnessed by the Pueblo people.
Social Media Sites Can Profile Your Contacts
Aug 18 2017
Why you should think twice before you give an app access to your phone’s address book.
"Textalyzer" Aims at Deadly Distracted Driving
Aug 15 2017
A new device promises to tell police when a driver has been sending messages while behind the wheel, but is it legal? Larry Greenemeier reports.
Climate Change Fires Up Polar Bear Treadmill
Aug 11 2017
Sea ice is drifting faster in the Arctic—which means polar bears need to walk farther to stay in their native range. Emily Schwing reports.
No Bull: Lizards Flee When They See Red
Aug 09 2017
Western fence lizards are more spooked by red and gray shirts than they are by blue ones—perhaps because the males have blue bellies themselves. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Celebrities Tweet Like Bots
Aug 06 2017
Celebrity Twitter accounts look a lot like Twitter bots: They tweet regularly, follow relatively few people, and upload a lot of content. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cold Snap Shapes Lizard Survivors
Aug 03 2017
An epic bout of cold weather quickly altered a population of lizards—an example of natural selection in action. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mediterranean Diet Works--for Upper Crust
Aug 02 2017
Italians who stuck closely to the heart-healthy diet had fewer heart attacks and strokes—but only if they were well-off and/or college educated. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Screams Heard Round the Animal World
Aug 01 2017
Humans appear well equipped to recognize the alarm calls of other animals—perhaps because sounds of distress tend to have higher frequencies. Karen Hopkin reports.
This Caterpillar Whistles While It Irks
Jul 28 2017
The North American walnut sphinx caterpillar produces a whistle that sounds just like a songbird's alarm call--and the whistle seems to startle birds. Christopher Intagliata reports.
To Buy Happiness, Spend Money on Saving Time
Jul 27 2017
Volunteers who used money to save themselves time were more content than volunteers who purchased themselves physical stuff. Karen Hopkin reports.
Bacteria Can Be Resistant to Brand-New Antibiotics
Jul 25 2017
Exposure to existing antibiotics can imbue infectious bacteria with resistance that also kicks in against new drugs related to the originals. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Teaching Computers to Enjoy the View
Jul 20 2017
Researchers in the U.K. trained computers to rate photos of parks and cities for what humans consider to be their scenic beauty. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Flying through a Corpse's Clues
Jul 18 2017
Forensic entomologists can chemically analyze fly eggs from a corpse, which might speed up detective work. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Old Records Help Resurrect Historic Quake
Jul 14 2017
Century-old records found in Puerto Rico helped reconstruct the damage caused there by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake—and could help disaster experts plan for the next big one. Julia Rosen reports.
This Cell Phone Needs No Battery
Jul 12 2017
An experimental cell phone works by absorbing and reflecting radio waves—meaning it's incredibly energy efficient and needs no battery. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bacteria Might Share the Blame for Eczema
Jul 07 2017
In patients with severe eczema, Staphylococcus aureus strains dominated the skin microbe population—suggesting that certain types of bacteria could worsen eczema flares. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Franklin's Lightning Rod Served Political Ends
Jul 04 2017
Whether lightning rods should have rounded or pointy ends became a point of contention between rebellious Americans and King George III.
Heat Will Hit America's Poorest Worst
Jun 30 2017
Economists calculate that each degree Celsius of warming will dock the U.S. economy by 1.2 percent--and increase the divide between rich and poor. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Rainbow Photons Pack More Computing Power
Jun 29 2017
Quantum bits, aka qubits, can simultaneously encode 0 and 1. But multicolored photons could enable even more states to exist at the same time, ramping up computing power. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Moths Inspire Better Smartphone Screens
Jun 27 2017
Researchers designed an antireflective coating for smartphone screens, with inspiration from the bumpy eyes of moths. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Better Memory Begets Boredom
Jun 23 2017
The better study participants scored in the memory test, the faster they got bored. Karen Hopkin reports.
DNA Points to Multiple Migrations into the Americas
Jun 23 2017
DNA analysis of skeletons found in the Pacific Northwest backs up traditional oral histories, and suggests there could have been more than one colonization of the Americas. Emily Schwing reports.
Keep Rolling Luggage Upright with Physics
Jun 22 2017
A team of physicists has revealed why rolling suitcases start rocking from wheel to wheel—and how to avoid that frustrating phenomenon. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Wolves Need More Room to Roam
Jun 20 2017
Ecologists say wolves should be allowed to roam beyond remote wilderness areas—and that by scaring off smaller predators like coyotes and jackals, wolves might do a good service, too. Emily Schwing reports.
Engineers Build Bendy Batteries for Wearables
Jun 19 2017
Researchers built silver–zinc batteries that can bend and stretch—meaning they could be more elegantly integrated into future wearable devices. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Rising Temps Lower Polar Bear Mercury Intake
Jun 16 2017
As polar bears are forced onto land, they're feeding on animals with less mercury—reducing their levels of the toxic pollutant. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Some Hotel Bed Bug Sightings May Be Bogus
Jun 14 2017
Only a third of travelers could correctly identify a bed bug—suggesting that some bug sightings in online reviews could be cases of mistaken identity. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Opioids Still Needed by Some Pain Patients
Jun 13 2017
The "other victims" of the opioid epidemic are pain patients who need the drugs but cannot now get them because of fears related to their use
Bacterially Boosted Mosquitoes Could Vex Viruses
Jun 09 2017
Mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria are unable to transmit viruses to humans—and could curb the spread of viral disease. Karen Hopkin reports.
Alaska Accelerates Indoor Agriculture
Jun 05 2017
With 700 new greenhouses, Alaska is growing its own produce as deep into winter as the sun keeps rising.
Chromosomes Combat Counterfeit Caviar
Jun 03 2017
Researchers found unique genetic variants that differentiate costly beluga caviar from cheaper fakes that rip off consumers. Christopher Intagliata reports.
French Prez Invites Trumped Researchers
Jun 02 2017
New French president, Emmanual Macron, reacted to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement by inviting disaffected U.S. researchers to make France "a second homeland."
Trees Beat Lawns for Water-Hungry L.A.
May 27 2017
Evaporation from overwatered lawns cost the city of Los Angeles 70 billion gallons of wasted water a year. But the city's trees were much thriftier. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Former CDC Head Warns of Threats Biological and Political
May 26 2017
Tom Frieden, head of the CDC from 2009 to 2017, told graduating medical students that we face challenges from pathogens, and from politicians.
Fitness Bands Fail on Calorie Counts
May 24 2017
Activity trackers accurately reckon heart rate—but they're way off in estimates of energy expenditure. Christopher Intagliata reports.
New Concrete Recipes Could Cut Cracks
May 19 2017
Recipes for concrete that incorporate by-products from the coal and steel industries, like fly ash and slag, could reduce road salt–related cracking. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bees Prefer Flowers That Proffer Nicotine
May 18 2017
Bumblebees sought out flowers with nicotine in their nectar, and the drug appeared to enhance the bees' memories. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Large Impacts May Cause Volcanic Eruptions
May 17 2017
Really big meteorite or asteroid strikes may cause melting and deep deformations that eventually lead to volcanic eruptions.
Why the Cross Put Chickens on a New Road
May 15 2017
A religiously inspired change in the European diet about a thousand years ago led to the development of the modern domesticated chicken.
Field Study: Worms Leave 'Til No-Till
May 12 2017
Earthworm numbers doubled in fields after farmers switched from conventional plowing to no-till agriculture. Christopher Intagliata reports.
The Sneaky Danger of Space Dust
May 12 2017
When tiny particles of space debris slam into satellites, the collision could cause the emission of hardware-frying radiation. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Insects Donate DNA to Unrelated Bugs
May 10 2017
Bacteria swap DNA among themselves. And that process may be more common in multicellular organisms than previously believed. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Gophers versus the Volcano
May 10 2017
Pocket gophers survived the Mount Saint Helens eruption in their underground burrows and immediately went to work bringing back the ecosystem.
Wilderness Areas Suffer from Human Sound
May 08 2017
Human-produced noise doubles the background sound levels in 63 percent of protected areas, and raises it tenfold in 21 percent of such landscapes.
Pollution Peaks When Temperatures Top Out
May 04 2017
As temperatures rise, energy demands peak, with a corresponding increase in air pollutants. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Hot Chilies Cool Down Gut Inflammation in Mice
May 02 2017
The spicy compound in chilies kicks off a chemical cascade that reduces gut inflammation and immune activity in mice. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bronx River's Cleanup Brings Herring Home
May 01 2017
Called an "open sewer" in the recent past, the Bronx River is now clean enough for a type of herring to once again be introduced and to make runs to the ocean.
Ancient Human DNA Found in Cave Dirt
Apr 29 2017
Scientists uncovered genetic traces of Neandertals and Denisovans by screening cave dirt for DNA. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Gut Microbes Help Keep Starved Flies Fecund
Apr 26 2017
Microbes living in the guts of fruit flies appear to influence the flies' food choice—and promote egg production, even under a nutrient-poor diet. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Selective Breeding Molds Foxes into Pets
Apr 26 2017
Evolutionary biologist Lee Dugatkin talks about the six-decade Siberian experiment with foxes that has revealed details about domestication in general.
Why One Researcher Marched for Science
Apr 22 2017
Lisa Klein, from the materials science and engineering department at Rutgers University, commented on the March for Science at an April 21 talk to the chemistry department at Lehman College in the Bronx.
Healthy Behavior Can Spread Like Illness
Apr 20 2017
If people run more in New York City, that can push their socially connected counterparts in San Diego to run more as well. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Climate 420 Million Years Ago Poised for Comeback
Apr 20 2017
Starting in the next century, atmospheric carbon levels could begin to approach those of hundreds of millions of years ago, and have their warming effect augmented by a brighter sun.