The Sciences
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
Stories by Christopher Intagliata
The Sciences
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...
Health
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
Health
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...
The Sciences
See Movement Better by Bicarb
Bicarbonate, the chemical that transports CO 2 through the blood, increases the "refresh rate" of rod cells in lab tests--which could mean better motion detection. Christopher Intagliata reports...
The Sciences
La Niña Conditions Spin Up More Springtime Twisters
Severe weather forecasters could incorporate El Niño and La Niña cycling to make springtime tornado and hail forecasts. Christopher Intagliata reports
Space & Physics
Titan Could Host Life "Not As We Know It"
Saturn's moon Titan is too cold for cell membranes to form as they do on Earth. But researchers have come up with a cell membrane that could exist on Titan. Christopher Intagliata reports...
The Sciences
Beaver Teeth Have Iron Advantage
Beaver enamel is rich in iron—which is even more effective than fluoride at staving off cavities. Christopher Intagliata reports
The Sciences
Nectar Helps Bees’ Medicine Go Down
In addition to fuel, nectar from various plant species contains chemical compounds that reduce the numbers of a common gut parasite in bumblebees. Christopher Intagliata reports
Mind & Brain
Up Your Online Dating Game with Evidence-Based Strategies
Choosing a user name starting with a letter appearing earlier in the alphabet is just one scientifically vetted way to increase the odds of turning an online encounter into a first date...
The Sciences
Subway DNA Survey Finds Microbes, Mozzarella and Mystery
Scientists sequenced genetic material found in all 468 New York City subway stations, and nearly half matched no known organism. Christopher Intagliata reports
The Sciences
Drones Spy On Birds in Flight
Quadcopters appear to be a relatively benign tool to study the behavior and numbers of wetland birds. Christopher Intagliata reports
Mind & Brain
Climate Influences Language Evolution
The ease with which certain sounds are produced in different climes plays a role in the development of spoken languages. Christopher Intagliata reports
Evolution
Snail's Venom Puts Fish in Insulin Coma
The cone snail's venom contains not only neurotoxins, but insulin, too—which stuns the fish it preys on. Christopher Intagliata reports
Technology
Computer Snoopers Read Electromagnetic Emissions
Researchers were able to track the keystrokes of a nearby computer via fluctuations in its electromagnetic radiation output. Christopher Intagliata reports
Health
Antibiotics in Blood Can Make Malaria Mosquitoes Mightier
The drugs disrupt mosquitoes' gut bacteria, which appears to make the insects more effective malaria vectors. Christopher Intagliata reports
Health
Active Sun at Birth Cut Historical Life Spans
High UV radiation during solar maxima may have degraded expectant mothers' stores of folate, a vitamin essential to development. Christopher Intagliata reports
Space & Physics
E.T. May Reveal Itself with Vibration
Looking for movement could complement chemical searches for extraterrestrial life. Christopher Intagliata reports
Health
Lyme Helps Spread Other Tick Infections
Mice infected with Lyme and the Babesia parasite are more likely to pass on babesiosis than mice infected with babesiosis alone. Christopher Intagliata reports
The Sciences
Laser Zap Determines Fruit Ripeness
The way fruit reflects and absorbs laser light may be a good measure of its progression toward peak ripeness. Christopher Intagliata reports
