Science & Technology

"One big question, looking forward, is what makes children more flexible learners—are they just free from the preconceptions that adults have, or are they fundamentally more flexible or exploratory in how they see the world?" says Christopher Lucas. (Credit: iStockphoto) — Top StoryUniversity of California, Berkeley
Kid logic works better for learning new gizmos

"This is one of the first times that computation can give you something that you can almost not get from pure experiment,” says Benoît Roux. “It would certainly shake things up from a drug development standpoint." (Credit: deramko/Flickr)

Stanford University, University of Chicago

200,000 idle computers aid the hunt for new drugs

A new project has tapped the processing power of 200,000 computers to simulate the structure of a protein that allows cancer cells to run amok. READ MORE…

This robotic drumming prosthesis has motors that power two drumsticks. One is controlled by muscle sensors. The other is autonomous. (Credit: Georgia Tech)

Georgia Institute of Technology

Prosthetic turns drummer into 3-armed ‘cyborg’

A new robotic drumming prosthesis has two drumsticks—the musician’s arm and muscle sensors control one, and the other “listens” to … Continued

"This is an important next step in the search for exoplanets because imaging in visible light instead of infrared is what we likely have to do if we want to detect planets that might be suitable for harboring life," says Jared Maled. Above, the Magellan Telescope with the MagAO’s Adaptive Secondary Mirror mounted at the top looking down some 30 feet onto the 21-foot diameter primary mirror, which is encased inside the blue mirror cell. (Credit: Yuri Beletsky, Las Campanas Observatory)

University of Arizona, University of Michigan

Digital camera technology snaps exoplanet from Earth

Astronomers have used the same imaging technology found in a digital camera to take a picture of an exoplanet wiith an Earth-based telescope. READ MORE…

After looking at 35 strawberry varieties over two growing seasons, conducting extensive biochemical testing, and hosting consumer taste panels, the researchers identified 30 compounds directly tied to strawberry flavors that consumers prefer. They also identified six volatile compounds that add to humans' perception of sweetness. (Credit: Roger Sadler/Flickr)

University of Florida

Could strawberry essence make food taste sweeter?

The compounds that give strawberries their unique flavor might one day make processed foods taste better with less sugar and no artificial sweeteners. READ MORE…

"There is another factor involved: the conservation of natural enemies of the pest species," says Anthony Shelton. Predators like ladybird beetles can reduce the number of potentially resistant individuals in a pest population and delay evolution of resistance to Bt. (Credit: Keith Roragen/Flickr)

Cornell University, University of Melbourne

‘Natural enemies’ help modified crops control pests

The combination of natural enemies, such as ladybeetles, with modified crops delays pests’ ability to evolve resistance to insecticidal proteins. READ MORE…

"It's pretty incredible that a structure which is incredibly common could be so misunderstood," says Thomas Stewart. "Our finding, that adipose fins have evolved repeatedly, shows that this structure, long assumed to be more-or-less useless, might be very important to some fishes. It's exciting because it opens up new questions." (Credit: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/Flickr)

University of Chicago, University of Kansas

‘Re-run’ evolution puts fin on fish backs

Scientists are reconsidering the adipose fin on fish, once dismissed as a remnant but now seen as an important clue to how appendages evolved. READ MORE…