Rain and Irrigation Can Make Crops Temporary Bacteria Farms
Researchers suggest farmers should consider harvesting when fields are dry, to prevent dangerous bacteria blooms from contaminating food. Christopher Intagliata reports
Stories by Christopher Intagliata
Roman Builders May Have Copied Volcanic "Concrete"
The rock of the Campi Flegrei Caldera, west of Naples, Italy, has an intricate network of mineral fibers—just like the famed Roman concrete. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Noses Agree When Genes See Eye to Eye
We all perceive smells differently—and two people’s preferences may give clues to their degree of genetic similarity. Christopher Intagliata reports
Smartphone Battery Drains a Lot Even with Dark Screen
Background app updates, cell tower pings and other hidden activity accounts for almost half the battery drain on Android phones. Christopher Intagliata reports
Extreme Exercise Can Poison the Blood
Even four hours of intense activity may be enough to let bacteria escape from the gut into the blood, setting off a chain of inflammation. Christopher Intagliata reports
Comet Dust Kicks Up Clouds over the Moon
The same particles that streak through Earth's atmosphere as "shooting stars" kick up lunar dust when they strike the surface of the atmosphere-less moon. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Chimps Want Us to Cook Their Food
You won’t see them on your favorite cooking show any time soon, but chimps prefer their food cooked and will bring items to be cooked before they eat them — Christopher Intagliata, Eliene Augenbraun, Benjamin Meyers...
Mars Surface Glass Could Hold Ancient Fossils
Scientists have found ancient "impact glass" on the surface of Mars, which formed when asteroids struck, a billion or more years ago. If anything was alive at the time, biological materials could be trapped inside...
The Science of Online Dating
Looking to get ahead in the online dating world? Science has evidence for some surprising tips. —Eliene Augenbraun, Christopher Intagliata
"Brainprints" Could Be Future Security ID
We all emit slightly different brain waves in response to stimuli, and researchers say that an individual’s specific "brainprints" could be used to validate our identities...
Chimps Would "Cook" Food If They Could
A new study suggests that chimps have the cognitive skills necessary for cooking—such as patience—even if they don't control fire. Christopher Intagliata reports
Blood Pressure Vaccine Lengthens Rat Lives
A DNA-based vaccine gave rats six months of protection against high blood pressure as well as healthier hearts. Christopher Intagliata reports
Pop Music Gets Its Fossil Record Analyzed
An investigation of more than 17,000 hit tunes suggests popular music undergoes periods of shifting diversity, and that new styles evolve in bursts. Christopher Intagliata reports
Latex Lining Could Quiet Plane Rides
Engineers devised a latex-laced honeycomb material that could make an airplane cabin sound more like a quiet living room. Christopher Intagliata reports
Infants Already Glued to Multiple Screens
A new survey suggests that most kids by age two are using tablets and smartphones, sometimes while watching TV. Christopher Intagliata reports
Taste Salty with Less Salt
Making salamis and cheeses with more pores might make them taste just as salty but with less added sodium finding its way into the body. Christopher Intagliata reports
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Granular Materials Could Thwart Missiles
The harder a projectile hits a granular substance like sand, the more that material acts like a solid, effectively repelling the intruder. Christopher Intagliata reports
B.O. Gives Up Its Stinky Secrets
Staphylococcus hominis is a key perpetrator of body odor—and researchers say selectively interfering with it could make for more effective deodorants. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Outdoor Exercise Worth Some Air Pollution Risk
A Danish study of more than 50,000 adults suggests that exercise lowers risk of death—even if you work out amidst urban air pollution. Christopher Intagliata reports
Malaria Parasite Attracts Mosquitoes with Perfume
The Plasmodium parasite uses an altered type of plant chloroplast to manufacture pine-and-lemon-scented chemicals, which lure in the bloodsuckers. Christopher Intagliata reports...
