Delinquent developments – research study on juvenile delinquents Bruce Bower Dunedin lies at the southern end of New Zealand, nearly half a world and a far cry from the gritty, sometimes grim realities of life for youngsters growing up in many U.S. cities. Yet a group of more than 1,000 boys and girls born in […]
Map yields new view of ancient city An international team of scientists has assembled a map of the world’s largest preindustrial city, the sprawling settlement of Angkor in what’s now Cambodia. The new map shows that Angkor’s ruins cover more than 1,000 square kilometers, including areas outside boundaries that have been established to protect the […]
Squeezed nanospheres grow superstrong – A Hard Little Lesson P. Weiss Small is different. That’s a fact of life for scientists studying virus-size chunks of matter called nanoparticles. Now, the first-ever experimental determinations of the hardness of individual silicon nanospheres reveal just how different mechanical properties can be. The nanospheres are up to four times […]
Herpes may disarm immune system – herpes simplex virus Ron Cowen Herpes may disarm immune system Recurrent genital sores and fever blisters on the mouth provide two of the more painful reminders that infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) persists for life. Although researchers know HSV’s two strains can lie dormant in several tissues, the […]
Where the Gems Are – emeralds – Brief Article Corinna Wu Technique adds new facet to emeralds’ origins The brilliant, deep–blue-green emeralds that come from the mines of Colombia outshine their Austrian and Zambian cousins in both beauty and value. For an emerald, a Colombian pedigree confers not only spectacular color but also eye-popping prices. […]
Where have all the red grouse gone? – researchers have found that parasitic worms can cause the red grouse population of New England to rise and fall – Brief Article S.M. Researchers have solved a long-standing problem in ecology–and grouse hunting. Most red grouse populations in northern England crash every 4 to 8 years, then […]
Earlobe crease hints at heart disease – diagonal creases indicate a higher risk Look in the mirror. If your earlobes bear diagonal creases, you could run a higher risk of developing heart disease, according to results from an eight-year-long prospective study of more than 100 men and women. Since 1958, anecdotal evidence had suggested a […]
Step on it, Rex – Letters – Letter to the Editor There is another mechanism besides muscle that gives energy to running and hopping animals (“No Olympian: Analysis hints T. rex ran slowly, if at all,” SN: 3/2/02, p. 131). It enables such animals as kangaroos to run faster than their muscles alone can take […]
Cell videos catch asbestos in the act – how asbestos fibers cause cancer Janet Raloff Molecular moviemakers have produced the first graphic evidence suggesting why the size of an asbestos fiber plays a key role in its toxicity. Another research team has shown that asbestos can activate a versatile enzyme present in all living cells, […]
Brisk steps can reduce diabetes risk – walking – Brief Article D. Christensen Chalk up yet another reason to walk whenever possible. Quickly striding for an hour a day, even if it takes several installments, can cut nearly in half a woman’s risk of developing diabetes, according to a large nationwide study. Among 70,102 nurses […]