Society & Culture - Apr 19, 2009 15:45 - 0 Comments
Supreme Court picks cases with Congress in mind
NYU (US)—Past studies have found that Congress has little influence on Supreme Court rulings, but a new study by New York University researchers suggests legislative preference may affect the types of cases the Court chooses to hear. (more…)
Society & Culture - Apr 17, 2009 14:09 - 0 Comments
Not so fast: Morals can’t keep pace
USC (US)—Moral reactions take time. In a fast-moving digital landscape, our better selves may be struggling to catch up. (more…)
Science & Technology - Apr 13, 2009 8:31 - 0 Comments
Butterfly wings: sexy and repulsive?
YALE (US)—Butterflies have an all-purpose tool for both attracting mates or fending off predators—their wings. According to new research out of Yale University, butterflies use different sides of their wings to accomplish both those vital tasks. (more…)
Science & Technology - Apr 3, 2009 10:52 - 0 Comments
80 telescopes. 24 hours. One world.
U. CHICAGO (US)—“Around the World in 80 Telescopes” is a live 24-hour webcast, following night and day around the globe to some of the most advanced observatories both on and off the planet. The webcasts start Friday, April 3, in Hawaii, then move around the world. (more…)
Science & Technology - Apr 3, 2009 8:51 - 0 Comments
Distinguishing single cells with nothing but light
U. ROCHESTER (US)—By combining two optical techniques, scientists have developed a noninvasive method for observing changes in human cells—like T cells or cancer cells—using only light. (more…)
Science & Technology - Apr 3, 2009 8:46 - 0 Comments
Feather color linked to structures similar to beer foam
YALE (US)—Most colors in nature—from the color of our skin to the green of trees—are produced by pigments. But the bright blue feathers found in many birds, such as Bluebirds and Blue Jays, are instead produced by nanostructures. Under an electron microscope, these tiny structures—similar to beer foam—look like sponges. (more…)
Science & Technology - Mar 24, 2009 16:11 - 0 Comments
Dogs are efficient, but stealthy cats get prey
DUKE (US)—Evolution can behave as differently as cats and dogs. While dogs depend on an energy-efficient style of four-footed running over long distances to catch their prey, cats seem to have evolved a profoundly inefficient gait, tailor-made to creep up in slow motion on a mouse or bird. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Mar 24, 2009 15:37 - 4 Comments
Bulimia study suggests surprising racial divide
USC (US)—A new study shatters the stereotype that bulimia is a disorder found mostly among white and privileged teens. African-American girls are 50 percent more likely than white girls to be bulimic, according to new findings. And girls from families in the lowest income bracket studied are more than 150 percent more likely to be bulimic than girls from the most affluent families. (more…)
Society & Culture - Mar 21, 2009 11:49 - 0 Comments
Wishful thinking contaminates financial markets
CORNELL (US)—Overly optimistic investors not only inflict financial harm on themselves, but can negatively affect entire markets and even lead to market bubbles, new findings show. (more…)
Science & Technology - Mar 20, 2009 11:32 - 0 Comments
Feather color detected in 30 million-year-old bird fossil
YALE (US)–Scientists have discovered traces of organic material in fossilized bird feathers from 30 millions years ago. Yale University researchers say the material appears to be remnants of pigments that once gave birds their color, opening up the possibility of pinpointing the original hue of ancient birds and their ancestors, the dinosaurs. (more…)
Society & Culture - Mar 19, 2009 20:18 - 1 Comment
Cell phones at center of global music-making
The Stanford Mobile Phone Orchestra
Science & Technology - Mar 19, 2009 16:23 - 0 Comments
Disappearing Act: Cloaking device shows promise
DUKE (US)—A device that can bestow invisibility to an object by “cloaking” it from visual light is closer to reality. After being the first to demonstrate the feasibility of such a device by constructing a prototype in 2006, a team of Duke University engineers has produced a new type of cloaking device, which is significantly more sophisticated at cloaking in a broad range of frequencies. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Mar 19, 2009 12:32 - 1 Comment
Feelings of isolation linked to health issues for seniors
U. CHICAGO (US)—Older adults who can adjust to being alone appear to have fewer health problems than those who feel lonely and disconnected, regardless of their actual levels of connectedness. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Mar 19, 2009 11:52 - 0 Comments
‘Dark cells’ of living retina imaged for first time
U. ROCHESTER (US)—In a quest to figure out why one of the most prevalent eye diseases actually happens, researchers have captured the first-ever images of “dark cells” in a living retina. The new technique for seeing this nearly invisible layer of cells could help doctors identify the onset of many diseases of the eye, including macular degeneration, long before a patient notices symptoms. (more…)
Science & Technology - Mar 18, 2009 10:34 - 0 Comments
‘Liquid’ metals could pave way for nano-scale chips
YALE (US)—A novel type of metal that is stronger and more durable than silicon or steel could prove to be the ideal material for manufacturing nano-devices, like computer chips and biomedical sensors. “Amorphous metals” known as bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) seem solid but are more like a very slow-flowing liquid that has no structure beyond the atomic level—making them ideal for molding fine details.
Society & Culture - Mar 18, 2009 9:52 - 0 Comments
‘Trader mindset’ dampens emotional reaction to loss
NYU/CALTECH (US)—For most stock traders, loss is just part of the job—especially in today’s bear market. However, results of a new study suggest that, unlike amateur traders, professionals seem to develop an emotional numbness to losing money.
Health & Medicine - Mar 17, 2009 16:33 - 1 Comment
Genes coupled with stress wreak havoc on men’s health
DUKE (US)—Men with a common genetic variant produce more than twice as much of a hormone known to increase blood pressure and blood sugar when they are angry, according to researchers from Duke University Medical Center.
Society & Culture - Mar 16, 2009 15:49 - 0 Comments
Who’s controlling your corner of the Internet?
PRINCETON (US)—It’s a question most of us have asked, with growing annoyance, while we wait for a Web page to load: Why is my Internet connection so slow today?
