September, 2009
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Deformed Frogs Highlight Global Decline of Amphibian Species - September 28, 2009 06:00 PM
The growing number of deformed frogs in northern California is caused by factors similar to those responsible for the rapid decline of frog populations and other amphibians worldwide.
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“Modest” Success of HIV Vaccine a Significant Step for Researchers - September 27, 2009 08:00 AM
A clinical trial found that an experimental HIV vaccine moderately reduced the risk of infection. It is the first successful large clinical trial of an HIV vaccine.
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Proof of Water on the Moon: What Does It Mean for the Future of Space Exploration? - September 25, 2009 02:00 PM
Three separate spacecraft have found proof that the moon’s surface holds water molecules, a discovery that will likely encourage exploration of the moon and beyond.
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What Is the Cause and Impact of Australia’s Dust Storm? - September 24, 2009 05:00 PM
Australia’s biggest dust storm in 70 years blanketed Sydney and other parts of the east coast in red dust this week.
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Evidence Suggests the Moon’s Permanently Shadowed Craters Contain Ice - September 19, 2009 08:00 AM
The first results from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter indicate that shadowed craters on the moon’s north and south poles may be the coldest places in the solar system, raising the probability that water ice is present on the moon.
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Space Radiation Hinders NASA’s Mars Ambitions - September 17, 2009 02:45 PM
Faced with proposed budget cuts and a need for new technologies that would protect astronauts from radiation, NASA may have to put Mars exploration on hold.
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Legend of Man-Eating Raptor Confirmed by Paleontologists - September 16, 2009 07:00 AM
New Zealand legends of a man-eating bird may actually have substance, as scientists say that Haast’s eagle, a giant bird extinct for 500 years, was a predator, not a scavenger.
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MRSA “Superbug” Found on West Coast Beaches - September 15, 2009 03:30 PM
Drug-resistant staph bacteria similar to the strains found in hospitals have been detected on beaches in Washington state, surprising researchers who believed there was no chance of finding the “superbug” there.
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On This Day: Darwin’s HMS Beagle Reaches Galapagos Islands - September 15, 2009 02:00 AM
On Sept. 15, 1835, Charles Darwin, aboard the HMS Beagle, reached the Galapagos Islands, where he would start to formulate his ideas of natural selection.
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DNA Pioneer Calls for Britain to Remove Genetic Profiles of Innocent People From Its Database - September 14, 2009 06:00 PM
Alec Jeffreys, a pioneer in genetic profiling, last week repeated his opposition to the policy of keeping DNA samples of innocent people in the British DNA database. Britain has been slow to respond to a European court ruling that found the database violated the human right to privacy.
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2,000-Year-Old Vessel Could Help Unravel the Mysteries of Ancient Jerusalem - September 14, 2009 03:00 PM
The discovery of an ancient inscribed vessel in Jerusalem could shed light on religious rituals practiced around the time of Jesus Christ.
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Three NFL Players Join List of Athletes Bequeathing Brains to Concussion Research - September 14, 2009 02:30 PM
NFL Pro Bowlers Matt Birk, Lofa Tatupu and Sean Morey will donate their brains to a program studying chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurological disorder caused by blows to the head.
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On This Day: Soviet Luna 2 Space Probe Reaches Moon - September 14, 2009 10:30 AM
On Sept. 14, 1959, the Soviet probe Luna 2 crashed onto the surface of the moon, becoming the first man-made object to reach it.
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Fascination Surrounds Different Species' Evolution and Decline - September 14, 2009 08:00 AM
Exciting new and evolved species have recently been discovered in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, while other species have drastically diminished in British Columbia, highlighting the challenges facing conservationists.
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Landmark Sleep Study Looks Beyond the Brain - September 12, 2009 08:00 AM
Researchers at UCLA diverged from tradition, examining sleep as an adaptive strategy that has more than one distinct purpose, instead of studying the brain’s relation to sleep.
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Two Studies Make Promising Advances in Prostate Cancer Research - September 10, 2009 06:00 PM
Two recently released studies have moved science closer to discovering the cause of prostate cancer; one strengthened the link between prostate cancer and a virus, while the other discovered a stem cell in the prostate.
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Preventing Bacteria From Communicating May Help in Defeating It - September 10, 2009 07:00 AM
A few studies have found that blocking the communication molecules sent out by bacteria can render them practically harmless, and may prevent the evolution of resistant strains.
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Real Love Inspires Creativity - September 08, 2009 02:30 PM
A new study from the University of Amsterdam shows that romantic love heightens creativity, while lust improves logical thinking. Though experts note there are ways to summon one’s creative energies, even without a muse.
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Can Dogs Learn How To Read? - September 04, 2009 03:00 PM
A Wisconsin woman claims her dog can read, highlighting the capacity of canine brains and underscoring the benefits of the human-canine relationship.
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Music Makes Monkeys Emotional—Just Not Human Music - September 04, 2009 07:00 AM
A composer and a scientist have found that animals respond to music derived from their own vocal communication, a discovery that could make life for captive animals much more pleasant.
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Discarded Watermelons Could Be New Source of Biofuel - September 03, 2009 07:00 AM
Imperfect watermelons could be turned into ethanol and used to fuel farm equipment, adding one more fuel source to the do-it-yourself and green fuel movements.
August, 2009
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Rare “Hot Jupiter” Planet May Be Eaten by Its Star - August 31, 2009 08:00 AM
Scientists believe a gas giant planet is orbiting so close to its parent star that it will be destroyed or engulfed. If it survives, it will disprove what scientists believe about tidal forces.
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Scientists Draw Portrait of Jurassic Squid Using Its Own Ink - August 29, 2009 08:00 AM
The perfect preservation of an ancient squid fossil allowed scientists to make use of its ink, shedding new light on the conditions that create the finest fossils.
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Astronomers Asking You to Help Solve Mystery of Dimming Star - August 28, 2009 09:00 AM
The nearly 200-year-old astronomical mystery that is epsilon Aurigae could be solved in the next few years, thanks to amateur astronomers and the Internet.
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Bee Gene Damage May Be Cause of Colony Collapse Disorder - August 27, 2009 08:00 AM
According to a new study, simultaneous infection with multiple viruses might be the reason why bee colonies have been mysteriously dying off over the last few years.
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MS Breakthrough Offers Hope for New Treatment - August 26, 2009 07:00 AM
British researchers have discovered that a protein-like molecule in the brain resists the spread of multiple sclerosis. The discovery, which could lead to the production of a powerful MS drug in the future, is the latest breakthrough in the search for an MS cure.
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Cleaner Fish “Uniform” Underscores Value of Camouflage in Nature - August 25, 2009 04:00 PM
The different colors and patterns used to distinguish coral reef cleaner fish are an example of protective camouflage found in nature, and used to great benefit by the wearer.
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Experiments in Space: International Space Station to Get New Science Equipment - August 24, 2009 06:00 PM
The latest Discovery mission will bring mice, a freezer, small furnaces, and another mini science lab to the International Space Station to study how matter behaves without gravity.
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Why Humans Are the Only Animals That Speak - August 22, 2009 07:00 AM
A new study says the expansion of a specific region of the brain designated as a speech and language area may hold the answer to why humans are the only species that talks.
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Caster Semenya Case Raises Question: How Do You Determine Sex? - August 20, 2009 06:00 PM
South African runner Caster Semenya is being tested to determine whether she is a female amid suspicion that she may actually possess the genetic characteristics of a male.