All Stories
- Chemistry
Smash hit: Making ‘diamond’ that’s harder than diamonds
Scientists had suspected extreme meteorite impacts might turn graphite into an unusual type of diamond. Now they’ve seen it happen — in under a nanosecond.
- Physics
Black hole smashup sent out ‘yottawatts’ of power
When two black holes collided, they released a lot of energy in gravity waves. How much? How about 36 septillion yottawatts of power!
- Genetics
Genes: How few needed for life?
Scientists rebuilt a microbe using its old genes. But not all of them. They used as few building-blocks as they could get away with and still have the life-form survive.
- Earth
Breathing very dirty air may boost obesity risk
Breathing dirty Beijing air made rats heavier and less healthy than rats breathing clean air. Scientists now worry such polluted air may do the same thing to people.
- Physics
Scientists Say: Watt
Say Watt? This is a unit used to measure the flow of energy being used.
- Health & Medicine
Eating breakfast — even twice — is truly the healthier choice
Some experts argue that breakfast is the most important meal of the day — especially for keeping school-age kids at a healthy weight.
- Genetics
Fattier yeast live long and prosper
Scientists were hoping to build better biofuels. Instead they discovered that fatter yeast cells live longer than lean ones.
- Chemistry
Microbes mine treasure from waste
Like miniature factories, bioreactors house microbes recruited to chew through wastes to clean dirty water, make chemicals or generate electricity.
- Animals
Spiders eat insects — and sometimes veggies
Plant-eating spiders have been found on every continent except Antarctica, a new study notes.
- Animals
Less brilliant flowers still keep bees coming back
Bumblebees prefer petals that aren’t overly shimmery. This suggests plants are attuned to what insects see.
- Brain
‘Mindfulness’ defuses stress in classrooms and teaching
The science behind mindfulness shows that both teachers and students can benefit from a bit of focused attention.
- Math
Scientists Say: Y-axis
The bars on a graph tell you nothing unless you know what they mean. The lines on the sides can let you know.
