Solving the mystery of sleep

Solving the mystery of sleep

Sleep remains one of the big mysteries in biology. All animals sleep, and people who are deprived of sleep suffer physically, emotionally and intellectually. But nobody knows how sleep restores the…
Both sides of the Paranormal Debate?

Both sides of the Paranormal Debate?

Personally I have very little interest in the paranormal or parapsychology, but I have to commend Alex Tsakiris of the Skeptiko podcast for presenting interviews from both sides of the debate. Alex…
When cookies catch the cooties

When cookies catch the cooties

Companies selling food products may need to worry about their goods catching "cooties" by coming in contact with certain other products, such as lard and feminine napkins, in shoppers' carts or on…
The Great Escape, II

The Great Escape, II

 What is it about keeping lab mice that continually seems to conjure images of World War II? Is it the obvious:that, in the case of lab mice, we are all Col. Klink, the hapless commandante…
The Beijing Solution To Cutting Pollution

The Beijing Solution To Cutting Pollution

If you're a communist dictatorship, the solution for pollution is simple - you ban driving. They did just that during the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation from Nov. 4-6, 2006 and it…
How to look at dinosaur tracks

How to look at dinosaur tracks

Dinosaur tracks, once neglected, are now considered a key source of scientific information on dinosaur behavior and ecology. A new study appearing in the May issue of The Journal of Geology provides…
A Historic Day for Intellectual Property

A Historic Day for Intellectual Property

  A recent column discussed the historical context for the emergence of intellectual property as the new and most important valuation of a company.  While this point of view is becoming…
Improving electronic noses with artificial 'snot'

Improving electronic noses with artificial 'snot'

Researchers at The University of Warwick and Leicester University have used an artificial snot (nasal mucus) to significantly enhance the performance of electronic noses. The researchers have coated…
Pumping up weak muscle genes

Pumping up weak muscle genes

Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have identified an enzyme that pumps up a cell’s ability to maintain healthy muscle and restores normal muscle function in genetically…
Track ESA spacecraft online

Track ESA spacecraft online

Want to know if the International Space Station is over you right now? You can view the location of ESA's Earth-orbiting spacecraft and other ESA-related missions in real-time via a new tracking…
Macadamia nuts are good for the heart

Macadamia nuts are good for the heart

One more reason to visit Hawaii. Incorporating macadamia nuts into a heart healthy diet can reduce cardiovascular disease risks according to Penn State researchers. "We looked at macadamia nuts…