New Concrete Recipes Could Cut Cracks
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.
Stories by Christopher Intagliata
Bees Prefer Flowers That Proffer Nicotine
Bumblebees sought out flowers with nicotine in their nectar, and the drug appeared to enhance the bees' memories. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Field Study: Worms Leave 'Til No-Till
Earthworm numbers doubled in fields after farmers switched from conventional plowing to no-till agriculture. Christopher Intagliata reports.
The Sneaky Danger of Space Dust
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
Bacteria swap DNA among themselves. And that process may be more common in multicellular organisms than previously believed. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Pollution Peaks When Temperatures Top Out
As temperatures rise, energy demands peak, with a corresponding increase in air pollutants. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Hot Chilies Cool Down Gut Inflammation in Mice
The spicy compound in chilies kicks off a chemical cascade that reduces gut inflammation and immune activity in mice. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ancient Human DNA Found in Cave Dirt
Scientists uncovered genetic traces of Neandertals and Denisovans by screening cave dirt for DNA. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Gut Microbes Help Keep Starved Flies Fecund
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.
Healthy Behavior Can Spread Like Illness
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.
Species Split When Mountains Rise
Plant species in China's Hengduan Mountains exploded in diversity eight million years ago—right when the mountains were built. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cave Dwellers Battled Bed Bug Bites, Too
Researchers have found the earliest evidence of bugs in the Cimex genus co-habitating with humans, in Oregon's Paisley Caves. Christopher Intagliata reports.
UV Rays Strip Small Galaxies of Star Stuff
Researchers measured the intensity of the universe's ultraviolet background radiation, and say it may be strong enough to strip small galaxies of star-forming gas. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Pollinators Shape Plants to Their Preference
In fewer than a dozen generations bumblebee-pollinated plants were coaxed to develop traits that made them even more pleasing to the bees. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Low Biodiversity Brings Earlier Bloom
For every two species lost in a grassland, the remaining flowers there bloomed a day earlier—on par with changes due to rising global temperatures. Christopher Intagliata reports.
(Probably Not a) Giant Alien Antenna
Astrophysicists propose that mysterious "fast radio bursts" could, in very speculative theory, be produced by an antenna twice the size of Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Teeth Hint at a Friendlier Neandertal
By sequencing DNA in Neandertal dental plaque, scientists were able to find out about their diets—and their good relations with modern humans. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Biggest Rivers Are Overhead
Atmospheric rivers can carry the same amount of water vapor as 15 to 20 Mississippi Rivers—and deliver punishing winds, too. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Last Woollies Had Mammoth Mutations
The final holdout woolly mammoths had large numbers of harmful mutations—which would have given them satiny coats and a weakened sense of smell. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Blood Cells Remember Your Mountain Vacation
Red blood cells retain a memory of high-altitude exposure, allowing for faster acclimation next time. But that memory fades within four months. Christopher Intagliata reports.
