Superfast Computer Chip Transmits Data with Light
Researchers designed a chip that transfers data not with electrons but with photons—resulting in a potential 10-fold boost in speed. Christopher Intagliata reports
Stories by Christopher Intagliata
Drugged Gut Microbiome Cuts Heart Risk in Mice
A compound found in extra virgin olive oil and red wine reduced mice’s risk of clogged arteries. Christopher Intagliata reports
Small Fish Takes Fast-Evolution Track
Stickleback fish in Alaska evolved from living in seawater to freshwater in just 50 years, with the help of freshwater traits in their genome. Christopher Intagliata reports
Cockroach Caca Contains Chemical Messages Made by Microbes
Roaches get the signal to gather together from pheromones produced by their gut microbes and released in the insects’ excrement. Christopher Intagliata reports
New African Highways Have a High Environmental Price
An analysis determines that many road-building projects in Africa would bring only modest benefits to people, while devastating the environment. Christopher Intagliata reports
Obese Dad's Sperm May Influence Offspring's Weight
Overweight men’s sperm undergo epigenetic changes that may alter a child’s brain development and appetite control. Christopher Intagliata reports
Pollination Isn't Just for the Bees
Flies, beetles, butterflies and moths may account for some 40 percent of the world’s pollination. Christopher Intagliata reports
Espresso Machines Brew a Microbiome of Their Own
Researchers sampled 10 espresso machines and found that most of them harbored coffee residues rich in bacteria—including some potentially pathogenic strains. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Why We Live in a Cloud of Microbes
Pets and people shed clouds of microbes as unique and personal as their fingerprints, but the clouds can change over time.
Gut Bacteria Signal Your Brain When They're Full
Twenty minutes into a meal, E. coli pump out appetite-suppressing proteins, which could influence our feeling of hunger. Christopher Intagliata reports
Your Brain Can Taste without Your Tongue
Stimulating the "taste cortex" was enough to trick mice into thinking they'd tasted sweet or bitter substances, when in fact their tongues tasted nothing at all. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Eat Slowly and Breathe Smoothly to Enhance Taste
Slow, steady breathing lofts minute food particles into the nasal cavity, where they contribute to your perception of flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports
What Makes Sand Dunes Sing
Engineers at Caltech discovered that for sand dunes to produce sound they need a dry layer on top that amplifies internal frequencies during sand movement. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Migratory Birds May Use Magnetic "GPS"
Using a magnetic field, researchers could trick migratory birds to turn in the wrong direction before takeoff.
Arctic Marine Mammals Swim Up to the Microphone
As Arctic sea ice melts, an underwater recording project reveals that the submerged ecology is undergoing change, with humpbacks and killer whales staying north later in the year. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Decoy Mating Call Battles Citrus Pest
Researchers developed a call that effectively mimics the citrus psyllid's mating song, which could be a weapon against a devastating crop scourge. Christopher Intagliata reports
Chew on This--Babies Need Their Tongues to Tell Sounds Apart
Moving their tongues may help babies understand new languages.
Whale Poop Drives Global Nutrient Cycling
Whales fertilize ocean surface waters with key nutrients like phosphorus, which move through the food chain, and eventually, onto land. Christopher Intagliata reports
Cheap Chinese Goods Have a High Carbon Cost
About a quarter of China's carbon emissions are due to the manufacture and transport of goods destined for elsewhere.
Beet Juice Could Help Body Beat Altitude
Beet juice contains nitrates, which the body can convert to nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes blood vessels and makes it easier to function in conditions of low oxygen. Christopher Intagliata reports...
