60-Second Science

Distracted Customers' Wait Times Fly

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 00:05:08 -0500

A study in the journal NeuroQuantology found that people forced to wait, for example in line, experienced the time spent as being far less if they were amused and distracted. Cynthia Graber reports

Botoxed Face Impairs Bad Feelings

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 10:17:08 -0500

A study in the journal Psychological Science indicates that people who had facial muscles deadened with botox had difficulty processing negative emotions. Karen Hopkin reports

Genetic Doping Next Athletic Cheat

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 09:42:08 -0500

Researchers writing in the journal Science discuss the threat to athletic integrity posed by genetic doping--gene therapy to enhance performance--as well as efforts to test for it. Cynthia Graber reports

Ancient East Asian Found in Roman Empire

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 00:04:08 -0500

In a report in the Journal of Roman Archaeology, researchers announce the discovery of a body of an east Asian man, buried in Italy two millennia ago. Christopher Intagliata reports

Gunfight Tip: Faster to Draw Second

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:41:08 -0500

A study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society finds that reacting to a movement, such as being drawn on in a gunfight, is faster than initiating the movement. Steve Mirsky reports

Bonobo Chimps Stay Childlike

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 00:03:08 -0500

A study in the journal Current Biology finds that bonobo chimps have delayed development of social behavior--which keeps them, well, nice. Karen Hopkin reports

Bees Can Recognize Human Faces

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:08:08 -0500

A report in the Journal of Experimental Biology finds that bees can be trained to recognize human faces. Their bee brains could inform computerized efforts at facial recognition. Cynthia Graber reports

Asexual Solution to a Parasite Problem

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:57:08 -0500

A report in the journal Science explains how bdelloid rotifers, which reproduce asexually, clear parasitic infections by drying out to kill the freeloader. Karen Hopkin reports

Forcing Electrons into Superconducting Line

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:55:08 -0500

In a study in the journal Nature researchers created a "pseudo gap," in which electrons in superconducting materials line up just before flowing resistance-free. Sonya Buyting reports

Listening While Driving Is, What'd Ya Say?

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:33:08 -0500

A study in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin and Review finds that not only does talking interfere with driving skills, the act of driving makes listening a much harder task. Karen Hopkin reports

Plants Put the Bend in Rivers

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:37:08 -0500

Studies in the journals Geology and Earth-Science Reviews reveal that ancient rivers were broad straight sheets of water. Colonization by plants changed the water flow. Adam Hinterthuer reports

Men Won't Ask for Shopping Directions Either

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:32:08 -0500

A study in the Journal of Consumer Marketing finds that men are less likely than women to ask for expert advice when shopping, in this case for wine. Karen Hopkin reports

Cleopatra's Eyeliner: Peeper Health Keeper

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:42:08 -0500

A study in the journal Analytical Chemistry finds that the black eyeliner worn by ancient Egyptians may have had properties that helped ward off eye-damaging bacterial infections. Cynthia Graber reports

1 Million Years B.C.: Humans Rare

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:40:08 -0500

A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences used genomic analysis of modern humans to reveal that the population of our ancestors a million years back was below 20,000. Karen Hopkin reports

French Fries on the Corny Side

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:38:08 -0500

A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that French fries from national chain restaurants tend to be fried in corn oil, which is a less healthful alternative than other vegetable oils. Karen Hopkin reports

Artificial Muscle Brings Back Blink

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:08:08 -0500

A study in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery reports the development of an artificial muscle system that could restore the ability to blink to stroke and injury patients. Cynthia Graber reports

Running Shoes Jog Joints

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:32:08 -0500

In a study in the Journal of Injury, Function and Rehabilitation, researchers found that running shoes protected the feet, but at the expense of hips, knees and ankles. Molly Webster reports

Why Dwarf Galaxies Lack Star Power

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:07:08 -0500

In a study in the journal Nature, researchers show that the relative lack of star density in dwarf galaxies need not conflict with standard cosmological models if you include the blast effects of supernovae. Karen Hopkin reports

Do All Animals Sound the Same?

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:45:08 -0500

In a study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, researchers adjusted animals' sounds for body size and metabolic rate, and found a surprising similarity of normalized calls throughout the animal kingdom. Karen Hopkin reports

Turn On, Tune In, Drop Dead

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:38:08 -0500

A study in the American Heart Association journal Circulation finds that cardiovascular disease rates rise with average daily TV viewing times--even if you're physically fit. Adam Hinterthuer reports

Wet Plants Feel the Burn

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:43:08 -0500

A study in the journal New Phytologist confirms the gardener's belief that droplets of water resting on some types of leaves can focus sunlight until the plant's surface actually burns. Karen Hopkin reports

Shedding Light on Migraine

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:02:08 -0500

Even some blind people are sensitive to light when enduring a migraine. In a study in the journal Nature Neuroscience, researchers studied blind people, and found a group of neurons that gets activated during a migraine, which could lead to treatments. Cynthia Graber reports

Monkeys Are Canaries in Lead Mine

Fri, 8 Jan 2010 09:05:08 -0500

In a study in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, researchers showed that macaques that live side by side with humans in Nepal show elevated lead levels in their bodies. The human population is thus probably also being exposed to unsafe lead. Cynthia Graber reports

Astronomy's Serendipitious Side

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 08:23:08 -0500

In an article in the journal Science, Tufts University astronomer Kenneth Lang catalogues the discoveries about our universe that were made by happy accident. Karen Hopkin reports

Alan Alda Looks for "The Human Spark"

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 00:05:08 -0500

The Human Spark, a three-part PBS series hosted by Alan Alda and debuting January 6th, looks at what makes humans the exceptionally unusual animals we are. Steve Mirsky reports

Animal Mimics: More Than Just Camouflage

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 07:32:08 -0500

A study in the journal Science finds that animals that use mimicry--for example, an insect closely resembling a twig--are indeed seen and ignored by predators, not merely missed by them as a camouflaged insect would be. Karen Hopkin reports

Computers Can't Show You the Monet

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 10:46:08 -0500

A study in the journal Computers & Graphics finds that computer programs for identifying works of art fall far short of even nonexpert human judges, because of our ability to psychologically evaluate scenes. Molly Webster reports

Do Cardiovascular Implants Get Enough Testing?

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 12:09:08 -0500

A paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association points out that many implantable cardiovascular devices appear to get FDA premarket approval without what the authors consider to be sufficient published test results. Cynthia Graber reports

Restoring Cells' Potential is Method of the Year

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:32:08 -0500

The journal Nature Methods is calling its "Method of the Year" the technique that now allows researchers to take an adult cell and make it behave as a pluripotent stem cell, which can become any kind of differentiated body cell. Cynthia Graber reports

NYC High Schoolers Find Fake Food Labeling with DNA

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:27:08 -0500

Working with professional gene sequencers, high school students Brenda Tan and Matt Cost identified food frauds and unusual animal species in the city. The research will appear in the journal BioScience. Adam Hinterthuer reports

Natural Pot-Like Compound Could Fight Obesity

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:19:08 -0500

A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that endocannabinoids, compounds naturally found in the body related to pot's active ingredient, could inform the effort to control appetite. Cynthia Graber reports

Find X and Say Your Work

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:32:08 -0500

A study in the Electronic Journal of Research In Educational Psychology found that students who worked out math problems out loud got more accurate results, and faster. Karen Hopkin reports

Fog Found on Saturn's Moon Titan

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:40:08 -0500

A study in Astrophysical Journal Letters reveals that Titan may be home to the familiar atmospheric condition known as fog--but made out of methane. Karen Hopkin reports

Gal Gamers Geekier Than Guys

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:05:08 -0500

A study in the Journal of Communication found that women who engage in a role-playing game online actually spend more time in the alternate reality than the guy players do. Karen Hopkin reports

Water Blankets Forming Planets

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:05:08 -0500

A study in the journal Science finds much more molecular water in regions where planets are forming around young stars. The mechanism to keep the water from being destroyed by UV radiation appears to involve some of the water molecules shielding the rest. Cynthia Graber reports

Lighter Drinks Avoid Heavy Head

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:35:08 -0500

A study in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research finds that lighter colored spirits, such as vodka, may cause lesser hangovers than darker drinks, such as bourbon. Cynthia Graber reports

Accord of Sorts in Copenhagen

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:18:08 -0500

Working late into the night, negotiators from the world's nations agreed in principle to attempt to limit the global postindustrial temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius. Steve Mirsky reports, with Christina Reed in Copenhagen

Grain Use Well before Modern Agriculture

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:10:08 -0500

A study in the journal Science finds evidence that early modern humans were making use of grains, which required significant processing before eating, 100,000 years ago. Cynthia Graber reports

Smaller Fingers Mean More Sensitive Fingertips

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:24:08 -0500

A study in the Journal of Neuroscience finds that people with smaller fingers have more sensitive fingertips, probably due to a higher concentration of touch receptors in a given area. Cynthia Graber reports.

Mercury Fillings Seem Safer over Time

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:22:08 -0500

A study in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology finds that mercury on the surface of dental fillings slowly turns to an inert sulfide compound, which should keep the mercury from harming the nervous system. Molly Webster reports

If Time Flew, You Had Fun

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:03:08 -0500

A study in the journal Psychological Science finds that if people believe that time has flown, they think they had more fun. Karen Hopkin reports

Gene for Disease Has Healthy Flip Side

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:27:08 -0500

A study in the journal Science finds that the gene for anemia-causing G6PD deficiency also protects against malaria, thereby keeping the gene active in populations. Cynthia Graber reports

Call Me Melville, Based on New Word Use

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:05:08 -0500

A study in the New Journal of Physics finds that writers leave a regular, distinct pattern of how frequently they use new words. Cynthia Graber reports

Gene Stops Ovaries from Testifying

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:53:08 -0500

A mouse study in the journal Cell finds that a gene in females must remain active throughout her life to keep her ovaries from turning into testes. Karen Hopkin reports

Stradivari's Violin Secret? His Talent

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 11:50:08 -0500

A study in the journal Angewandte Chemie that looked at the varnish used in Stradivarius instruments found nothing unusual, leading the researchers to conclude that Stradivari was just a master craftsman who had no secret ingredients unknown to other instrument-makers. Steve Mirsky reports

Caffeine Merely Masks Alcohol's Effect

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 07:15:08 -0500

An animal study in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience finds that coffee after alcohol consumption might merely make the drinker feel more capable, which could lead to bad decision making. Steve Mirsky reports

Newspapers Worldwide Call for Climate Change Action

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 10:41:08 -0500

On the first day of the Copenhagen climate conference, 56 newspapers publishing in 20 languages in 45 countries publish an unprecedented joint editorial calling for meaningful action to face the threat posed by climate change. Steve Mirsky reports. The editorial: http://bit.ly/71ut8f

Backyard Feeders Driving Bird Evolution

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 06:37:08 -0500

A study in the journal Current Biology finds that backyard bird feeders in Britain are responsible for splitting central European blackcap warblers into two distinct populations that may be on their way to becoming separate species. Karen Hopkin reports

Black Hole Quasar Building Galaxy

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 08:40:08 -0500

A study in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics finds that a distant quasar, powered by a black hole, is building a galaxy that will eventually surround the black hole. Cynthia Graber reports

Fitness Linked to Smartness

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 11:00:08 -0500

A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that men's cardiovascular fitness at the age of 18 is a marker for later academic achievement. Karen Hopkin reports

DNA Testing to Help Sharks Keep Fins

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 09:54:08 -0500

In a study in the journal Endangered Species Research, shark fins on sale were shown to be from a specific region in which shark populations have collapsed, evidence that may help change fishing regulations. Cynthia Graber reports

Language Immersion Impedes Access to Native Tongue

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:39:08 -0500

A study in the journal Psychological Science finds that students learning a new language in a total immersion environment had reduced access to their original language. Steve Mirsky reports

NASA Scanner Offers Clues to Whale Hearing

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:48:08 -0500

Researchers at U.C. San Diego and San Diego State University have imaged whale skulls in an attempt to determine the effects of sonar on whale hearing. Cynthia Graber reports

Wind Farmers Go to School on Fish

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:40:08 -0500

Designing wind farms with close packing of turbines, based on schooling fish, could greatly increase efficiency, say researchers at a meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics of the American Physical Society. Cynthia Graber reports

Amygdala's Acidic Aspiration Answer

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:57:08 -0500

A study in the journal Cell shows that the buildup of carbon dioxide when we stop breathing causes a pH change that signals proteins in the brain to force us to inhale. Karen Hopkin reports

Thanksgiving Dinner Could Stop Black Friday Shopping

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:40:08 -0500

A study in the Journal of Marketing Research finds that the traditional Thanksgiving meal may affect brain chemistry in such a way as to lessen the likelihood of impulse buying during Black Friday's store sales. Karen Hopkin reports

Cigarettes Are Bacteria Sticks, Too

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:53:08 -0500

A study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives finds that cigarettes harbor various species of bacteria, some of which cause disease. Karen Hopkin reports

Plants Share Light If Neighbor Is Related

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:38:08 -0500

A study in the American Journal of Botany finds that plants can tell if they're next to a relative and will grow to allow the kin more access to light. Cynthia Graber reports

Sound During Sleep Fixes Learning

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:55:08 -0500

A study in the journal Science found that sleeping after learning consolidated the acquisition of the new information, especially if sound cues related to the info were played to the sleeper. Karen Hopkin reports

Pharaohs Had Heart Disease

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:12:08 -0500

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that multiple ancient Egyptian mummies show signs of atherosclerosis. Karen Hopkin reports