Stories by Nikhil Swaminathan
DNA Computer Puts Microbes to Work as Number Crunchers
Study shows genetic material in bacteria can be harnessed to solve complex math problems
News Bytes of the Week: Flying dinosaur preferred to hoof it while hunting
New spray-on explosives detector; Next-gen insect repellents; Salty water on Mars; and more...
What Dictionaries and Optical Illusions Say About Our Brains
Cognitive scientist Mark Changizi does not bother with how the brain accomplishes a task, but rather why it performs the function in the first place.
Monkey Think, Monkey Do--With a Robotic Arm [Video]
Animals control prosthetic limbs with their brains, paving the way for humans to do the same
Bloomberg Lays into Policymakers' "Political Science"
New York City Mayor slams politicians for failing to heed scientists' research--and their warnings
First Biennial Kavli Prizewinners Announced
Seven scientists from three scientific disciplines today were awarded the first biennial Kavli Prizes. Each of the three award categories come with $1-million cash prize for researchers working in astrophysics, neuroscience and nanoscience...
News Bytes of the Week: Endangered Animals Get Raw Deal
Water wind farms; Sleepy brains experience "power failure"; and more...
Failure to Kick Smoking Habit May Put a Drag on Social Life
New study shows pattern of "quitting cascades" permeate social networks
Ted Kennedy Diagnosed with Malignant Brain Tumor
Doctors link weekend seizure to a cancerous glioma
News Bytes of the Week--Tiny Ants Invade Texas
Protein-folding video game and more…
Adult Cells Steal Trick from Cancer to Become Stem Cell-Like
A route used by tumor cells to spread could be exploited to make stem cells for regenerative medicine and cancer therapies
Better Baby-Making: Picking the Healthiest Embryo for IVF
Australian team uses genetic markers to identify the most viable embryos to eliminate risk of multiple pregnancies
Can HGH Reverse Brain Damage in Drug Addicts?
Study says that human growth hormone may restore memory and attention deficits caused by heroin abuse
News Bytes of the Week--Could Coastal Trees Have Saved Lives in Myanmar?
Dust devils greet Mars lander; Carbon nanotubes measure spiciness; Autism linked to schizophrenia ... and more
Legislation Introduced to Spur Treatments for Brain Ailments
If enacted, sponsors say measure could double or triple the number of neurotherapies on the market
What's Our Connection to the Platypus?
Strange animal offers insight into adaptations that are unique to almost all mammals
How Boys Become Boys (and Sometimes Girls)
New research explains how three proteins conspire to determine an embryo's sex
More than 22,000 Dead, 40,000 Missing from Myanmar Cyclone
10-hour storm is the deadliest to strike the country in recent memory
Are There Missing Pieces to the Human Genome Project?
A new study finds up to 250 regions where the reference genome sequenced over 13 years may be missing information
