Crustal Chemistry May Aid in Earthquake Prediction
Researchers say chemical changes in groundwater may someday be used to predict quakes four to six months in advance. Christopher Intagliata reports
Stories by Christopher Intagliata
Dino Devastator Also Ravaged Veggies
After the Chicxulub meteorite, more than half the plant species in temperate North America perished along with the dinosaurs, and the composition of post-impact vegetation changed markedly...
Synthetic Fabrics Host More Stench-Producing Bacteria
Micrococcus bacteria thrive on the open-air lattice of synthetic fibers—where they sit chomping on the fatty acids in our sweat, turning them into shorter, stinkier molecules. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Turtles Not Among the "Silent Majority" of Reptiles
Biologists have identified at least 11 different sounds in the turtle repertoire—but they still have no idea what they mean. Christopher Intagliata reports
Google Searches Linked to Stock Market Moves
When Web searches related to business and politics go up, the market tends to take a dive—although that connection may already be fading. Christopher Intagliata reports
Andromeda Snickers at Milky Way Mass
A new estimate finds that the Milky Way, once thought to be twice as massive as Andromeda, may actually only have half our neighbor galaxy's mass. Christopher Intagliata reports
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Ocean Plastic Particles Could Get in Gills
Sea creatures eat plastic dumped in the ocean, but they also might be accumulating plastic by sucking up tiny particles with their siphons and gills. Christopher Intagliata reports
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Mobile Phones Carry Owners' Microbiomes
The bacteria found on someone's mobile phone is a good match for the most common kinds of bacteria that live on their hands. Christopher Intagliata reports
Wild Beluga Whales Pass Hearing Test
Wild beluga whales were found to have hearing comparable with whales in captivity, which sets up a baseline test for hearing damage in other whales in noisy waters. Christopher Intagliata reports
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Oenophiles Confirm Fruity Flavors Finish First
Wine researchers find that fruity flavors tend to finish quickest on the palate, whereas oaky flavors linger longer--as aficionados have long claimed. Christopher Intagliata reports
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Smartphones Vulnerable to App Attack
Certain HTML5 apps that run across platforms can carry JavaScript attack codes that your smartphone will happily execute. Christopher Intagliata reports
Hand Soap Ingredient Can Up Body Bacteria Burden
Residues of the antimicrobial agent triclosan can paradoxically boost bacterial growth in our bodies, by giving microbes a comfortable biofilm in which to rest. Christopher Intagliata reports
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Health Insurance Mystifies Many Americans
A survey finds that sizeable percentages of Americans don't know how health insurance works and what various options mean. Christopher Intagliata reports
Muscle Mass Beats BMI as Longevity Predictor
A long-term study of more than 3,600 seniors found that more muscle mass was a better predictor of survival than was moderate body mass index. Christopher Intagliata reports
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Pain Pills May Be Future Antibiotics
By interfering with bacterial DNA repair and reproduction, some NSAID pain drugs could find future use as antibiotics. Christopher Intagliata reports
1,000-Year-Old Teeth Reveal Diet and Disease
The plaque on millennium-old teeth from a German cemetery contain the residue of pork, cabbage and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Christopher Intagliata reports
Looking Good Trumps Health as Behavioral Motivator
Teenagers who watched videos about skin damage from sun exposure used sunscreen far more than those who saw info about sun-caused skin cancer. Christopher Intagliata reports
Oregano Oil Kills Norovirus—but Not Enough
Oregano oil cut numbers of the mouse version of norovirus 10-fold. Its active ingredient was better: a 10,000-fold reduction. But bleach achieves a million-fold reduction. Christopher Intagliata reports
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Shivering Activates Fat to Keep You Warm
Shivering does more than contract muscles to produce warmth—it also activates brown fat to convert chemical energy directly to heat. Christopher Intagliata reports
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Crack Researchers Create Gutsier Glass
Glass with imperceptible built-in cracks is stronger than conventional glass, because the cracks dissipate flexing forces. More durable phone screens could result. Christopher Intagliata reports
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