Saturday Citations: Dogs (woolly) and cats (athletic). Plus: Amino acid precursors on Enceladus, beer goggles on Earth
This week, scientists reported on drinking beer, Saturnian expulsions, an ancient North American dog breed, and cats playing dogs' favorite game, fetch......»»
Sound provides new information about the secret lives of sperm whales
Sperm whales are the loudest animals on Earth and rely on sound to find food in the sprawling darkness of the deep sea. MBARI technology allows us to listen in, gaining new insight into the mysterious lives of these animals......»»
Can the "hard steps" in the evolutionary history of human intelligence be recast with geological thresholds?
What took so long for humans to appear on Earth? The Earth is 4.6 billion years old, and life began about 4 billion years ago, yet humans—the only intelligent, technological species we know of in the universe—have existed only for the last 200,0.....»»
Afar mantle plume study offers new insight into deep Earth processes
Sophisticated analysis of tiny bubbles of ancient gas trapped in volcanic rocks, combined with new geophysical modeling, has cast new light on long-held assumptions about the deep Earth......»»
Nanostructures in the deep ocean floor hint at life"s origin
Researchers led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan and The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) of Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered inorganic nanostructures surrounding deep-ocean hydro.....»»
Walking on the Moon in Cologne: Europe"s lunar life simulator
A large, ordinary-looking warehouse in the German city of Cologne is the closest you can get to walking on the moon—without leaving Earth......»»
Astronaut’s stunning photo shows ‘flowing silver snakes’
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station has captured some stunning images of Earth showing 'flowing silver snakes' and 'glowing golden claws.'.....»»
Fecal transplants reduce ADHD and anxiety symptoms in dogs with epilepsy, researchers find
Researchers from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and Center for Systems Neuroscience in Hannover, Germany have discovered that fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) can reduce negative mental health symptoms i.....»»
Research abounds at the International Space Station
At the International Space station, researchers are making strides in everything from Earth science to chemical properties. Here's what they're up to and why it matters......»»
Climate change is a pollution problem, and countries have stopped similar threats before—think DDT and acid rain
Climate change can seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, if you look closely at its causes, you'll realize that history is filled with similar health and environmental threats that humanity has overcome......»»
Extreme polar light environment of the North and South Poles sustains biodiversity, researchers suggest
Researchers working in Finland propose that the unique light environment of the Earth's polar regions creates conditions that result in circumpolar hybrid zones around the North and the South Poles. These extreme conditions increase the synchrony of.....»»
High-pressure reactions can turn nonporous rocks into sponges
In deep Earth, rocks take up and release water all the time, and the effects can be wide reaching. Dehydration can cause rocks to crack and trigger earthquakes, and over geologic timescales, this water cycling can influence plate tectonics and move c.....»»
A Soyuz capsule with 2 Russians and 1 American from the International Space Station returns to Earth
A Soyuz capsule carrying two Russians and one American from the International Space Station landed Monday in Kazakhstan, ending a record-breaking stay for the Russian pair......»»
Advanced civilizations will overheat their planets within 1,000 years, researchers suggest
Earth's average global temperatures have been steadily increasing since the Industrial Revolution. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), Earth has been heating up at a rate of 0.06°C (0.11°F) per decade since 1850—or ab.....»»
Giant panda skin cells transformed into stem cells to help ensure their survival
A team of biologists in China has reprogrammed skin cells from giant pandas into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), opening the door to creating primordial germ cells that could serve as precursors to sperm and egg cells......»»
One dead, 7 missing as heavy rains trigger floods in central Japan
One person was killed and at least seven were missing on Saturday, officials said, as "unprecedented" rains triggered floods and landslides in Japan's quake-hit region of Ishikawa, where authorities told tens of thousands to evacuate......»»
Hungary Danube waters reach decade high after Storm Boris
The Danube peaked at a 10-year high in a heavily fortified Budapest on Saturday with the water reaching the steps of parliament, after deadly Storm Boris lashed Europe......»»
S.Africa snowfall closes roads, strands motorists overnight
Unusually heavy snowfall caused major disruption on South Africa's roads Saturday with people still stranded at midday after spending the night stuck in their vehicles......»»
Saturday Citations: Football metaphors in physics; vets treat adorable baby rhino"s broken leg
This week, researchers reported an effective way to protect working dogs from heat stress: training them to dunk their heads in cool water. A new computational technique provided a breakthrough in understanding the so-called "pseudogap" in quantum ph.....»»
NYT Crossword: answers for Saturday, September 21
The New York Times crossword puzzle can be tough! If you're stuck, we're here to help with a list of today's clues and answers......»»
NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Saturday, September 21
Strands is a tricky take on the classic word search from NYT Games. If you're stuck and cannot solve today's puzzle, we've got help for you here......»»