Science News for Kids articles from August 2008

Science News for Kids archives from August 2008

A wandering eye.
August 2, 2008... Fossils show middle stage of the evolution of flatfish eyes to one side of their head [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new look at the fossils of primitive flatfish offer evidence that these fish--well-known for having both eyes on one side of...

Astrocytes are rising stars.
August 2, 2008... Often-ignored brain cells regulate blood flow and make fMRI possible [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes are finally getting their chance to shine. Two groups of researchers--one at MIT, the other at...

Decoding the quantum mystery.
August 2, 2008... Signals from space to Earth could establish the reality of Einstein's worst fear Every true fan of science fiction (and science too, for that matter) should be familiar with Forbidden Planet, the film famous for introducing the world to...

Embryos can learn visually.
August 2, 2008... Cuttlefish peer out of clear eggs for first lessons in dinner Cuttlefish could be the first animals shown to learn visually before birth or hatching, researchers say. Cuttlefish embryos that develop in their translucent eggs with crabs...

Farm life turns male toads female.
August 2, 2008... Toads studied over a wide area are most affected near agriculture [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Among toads living in farm country, gents tend to resemble the gals--both inside and out. This doesn't bode well for the hoppers impressing local...

Finding the golden genes.
August 2, 2008... Advances in gene therapy could tempt some athletes to enhance their genetic makeup, leading some researchers to work on detection methods just in case [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In early August--8/8/08, to be precise--the curtain will rise...

Fossils, now available in color.
August 2, 2008... A closer look at fossilized feathers suggests pigment may have been preserved [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Researchers have found what appear to be remnants of pigment in fossilized feathers, opening the possibility of reconstructing the...

Fountain of youth, with caveats.
August 2, 2008... Resveratrol helps hearts in mice, but doesn't reproduce all the benefits of low-calorie diets A substance found in red wine and touted as the chemical equivalent of the fountain of youth probably acts more like a wellspring of health--with...

Frog builds toes, then legs.
August 2, 2008... Watching gene activity of growing coqui frogs reveals surprising sequence A small frog appears to jump-start its skeletal development, turning on genes for building feet and toes before bothering to build its legs. While researchers...

Howdy, neighbor!
August 2, 2008... Millions of years ago, the American Southwest sat next to East Antarctica [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What a juxtaposition: About 800 million years ago, East Antarctica, now one of the coldest regions on Earth, abutted what is now...

Insightful light.
August 2, 2008... Raman spectroscopy may offer doctors, dentists and forensic scientists a better tool for molecular detection [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] From CT, PET and MRI to the original X, a vast alphabetical arsenal of tools tells doctors what is...

It's DNA Jim, but not as we know it.
August 2, 2008... Artificial DNA variant could aid medicine, biotechnology and nanotechnology If aliens have DNA, it might look something like this. Chemists have synthesized a DNA-like molecule using unnatural versions of the A, T, C and G "letters"...

Location matters.(dopamine)
August 2, 2008... Desire and dread are separated by just a few millimeters in the brain [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dopamine conducts a frenzied song of craving at one end of a tiny brain region and a panic-stricken hymn at the other. Depending on where...

Lunar liquid.
August 2, 2008... Early on, the moon's interior may have been as wet as Earth's upper mantle [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new analysis of moon rocks has revealed that the moon isn't as bone dry as researchers had thought, whetting the appetite of...

Messages from Mercury.
August 2, 2008... Flyby reveals clues to the planet's past and present [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mercury, the solar system's forgotten planet, is finally getting its place in the sun. An analysis of data collected during the January flyby of the...

Postcards from the edge.
August 2, 2008... Message from a craft at the solar system's final frontier holds surprises. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There are no signs to announce the edge of the solar system, but when the venerable Voyager 2 spacecraft approached this final frontier...

Precious little gems.
August 2, 2008... Microdiamonds may hold signs of ancient life on Earth Ancient microdiamonds embedded inside ancient zircons found in western Australia suggest that life may have existed on Earth up to 4.25 billion years ago. Chemical analyses indicate...

Recipe for an avalanche.
August 2, 2008... The way snow cracks determines how avalanches start [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Forecasting a snow avalanche takes more than measuring the angle of a mountain slope, researchers report in the July 11 Science. Whether an avalanche happens...

Repairing muscle from the cell up.
August 2, 2008... A stem cell transplant that fixes defective muscle in mice could someday become a treatment for muscular dystrophy It may one day be possible to use cell transplants to treat muscular dystrophy. A new study used skeletal muscle stem...

Shared recipes for longer life.
August 2, 2008... Study homes in on proteins that may affect longevity Eating a calorie-restricted diet and being female are the best bets for living longer, at least for animals. Now scientists have discovered that some links may exist between the two. ...

Icy Red Planet.
August 6, 2008... On Earth, ice is just another reason to love or loath winter, depending on where you live and how you feel about cold weather. On Mars, ice is much more special than that--any evidence of frozen water on the Red Planet suggests that life could...

Against the grains.
August 16, 2008... Low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets outperform low-fat regimen in two-year trial [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Carbohydrates have taken another hit. A new study finds that a low-carb diet results in greater weight loss and better cholesterol...

Asthma oddity.
August 16, 2008... A common microbe that colonizes the stomach might also Vprotect against asthma Children infected with a common stomach bacterium are less likely to have asthma than other kids, according to a study that will appear in the Aug. 15 Journal...

Built for Speed.(animals' speed)
August 16, 2008... Animals would prove fierce competitors at the Olympics--if only they would stay in their lanes [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At 8 a.m., before the day turns shirt-clinging muggy, bystanders gather in hopes of seeing some of the world's really...

Core calculations.
August 16, 2008... People track precise quantities even when they can't count WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Shhhh. Listen closely--that's the sound of people counting without using or even thinking about number words. English speakers can identify small numbers of...

Fugitives spread bumblebee diseases.
August 16, 2008... Pathogens hitchhike on commercial bees that escape from greenhouses [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bumblebees sneak out from work, too, and fugitives buzzing away from the job at commercial greenhouses could be spreading diseases to wild...

How the snake got its fangs.
August 16, 2008... It likely all started when the back of the mouth left the front. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "How'd you get those newfangled teeth?" hissed the petite garter snake to the venomous cobra. "Same way that you got yours," cobra replied. All...

Magnetic sense linked to molecule.
August 16, 2008... Fruit flies use protein sensitive to blue and UV light for magnetosensitivity [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scientists have identified a molecule that fruit flies need to sense magnetic fields. It is the first time the specific molecule has...

Nanomagnets tackle cancer.
August 16, 2008... Technique uses heat to kill cancerous cells [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new wave of therapies can exert a magnetic hold over disease--literally. The therapies employ powerful, roughly spherical magnets to help kill carefully targeted...

Neuron killers.
August 16, 2008... Misfolded, clumping proteins evade conviction, but they remain prime suspects in neurodegenerative diseases As open-and-shut cases go, Alzheimer's disease should top the list. The victim is clear. Suspects are in custody. Wherever neurons...

Parasitic plant gets more than a meal.
August 16, 2008... Host molecules might be the best defense for crop plants [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The parasitic vine known as dodder really sucks. It pierces the tissue of other plants--some of which are important crops--extracting water and nutrients...

Protein links metabolism and circadian rhythms.
August 16, 2008... Work could lead to drugs to combat obesity, aging and jetlag Cue stomach rumbles Sirtuin 1 sets clock to Metabolism Timing is everything, especially when it comes to basic biological functions such as eating, sleeping and detoxifying....

Quantum physics makes water different.
August 16, 2008... Text Size The length of bonds connecting water molecules could demonstrate quantum effects and help explain some of water's weirdness. Heavy water is not just heavier. Swapping each H in [H.sub.2]O with a D--hydrogen's isotope...

Seeing the smallest atom.
August 16, 2008... Graphene helps a team use a transmission electron microscope to image individual hydrogen atoms [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No room is left at the bottom. A team of physicists has shown how a common type of electron microscope can spot...

Statin snag.
August 16, 2008... Gene variant places some people at risk of side effect from statins Cholesterol-reducing drugs called statins do their job with remarkable efficiency, but in rare individuals they can cause a painful muscle side effect called myopathy....

Toddlers triumphant.
August 16, 2008... Advances in object recognition around age 2 may herald symbolic thought WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Something extraordinary happens between 18 and 24 months of age. In that brief span, toddlers take giant strides in their ability to visually...

Viagra and women.
August 16, 2008... The drug eases some sexual problems for women taking anti-depressants. Viagra is well established for treating male impotence. A new study slated to appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests the drug can also...

Welcome to the quantum Internet.
August 16, 2008... Quantum encryption is here, but the laws of physics can do much more than protect privacy A stylish new way of surfing the Internet is coming to Vienna this fall. Researchers plan to flip the switch on the next step toward a quantum...

Yummy bugs.
August 20, 2008... This summer, the Audubon Nature Institute is opening another museum in New Orleans. Its restaurant will offer everything from soup and main courses to desserts. But the foods will contain ingredients U.S. diners would usually complain about...

Your input needed.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... TEACHERS, we need your help. In coming months, Science News for Kids plans to make some big changes--ones designed to help you and your students. But rather than implement changes based solely on what we think is best, we'd like to get some...