New image captures 'stealth merger' of dwarf galaxies
New images of a nearby dwarf galaxy have revealed a dense stream of stars in its outer regions, the remains of an even smaller companion galaxy in the process of merging with its host. The host galaxy, known as NGC 4449, is the smallest primary galaxy in which a stellar stream from an ongoing merger has been identified and studied in detail.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:30am

Milky Way's black hole found grazing on asteroids
The giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way may be vaporizing and devouring asteroids, which could explain the frequent flares observed, according to astronomers.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:30am

Study to determine whether fish oil can help prevent psychiatric disorders
A new study was designed to test whether Omega-3 fatty acids improve clinical symptoms, and help adolescents and young adults (ages 12 to 25) who are at elevated risk for severe psychiatric disorders function better in school, work and other social environments.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:30am

Why bad immunity genes survive
Biologists have found new evidence of why mice, people and other vertebrate animals carry thousands of varieties of genes to make immune-system proteins named MHCs -- even though some of those genes make vertebrate animals susceptible to infections and to autoimmune diseases.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:30am

After-school program can reduce alcohol use among middle school students, stu...
A voluntary substance prevention program held after school and presented by trained facilitators can help reduce alcohol use among young adolescents, according to a new study.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:28am

Report on Texas fire urges firefighters to consider wind effects
Wind conditions at a fire scene can make a critical difference on the behavior of the blaze and the safety of firefighters, even indoors, according to a new report.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:28am

New 'cell assay on a chip:' Solid results from simple means
A research engineer combined a glass slide, plastic sheets and double-sided tape to build a "diffusion-based gradient generator", a tool to rapidly assess how changing concentrations of specific chemicals affect living cells.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:28am

Octagonal window of opportunity for carbon capture
Scientists have gathered new insight into the performance of a material called a zeolite that may filter carbon dioxide far more efficiently than current industrial "scrubbers" do.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:28am

Charter service: Encasing the Magna Carta
You often hear about the Framers of the Constitution, but not so much the framers of the Magna Carta. They work for NIST.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:28am

Timing capability added to living cell sensors
Individual cells modified to act as sensors using fluorescence are already useful tools in biochemistry, but now they can add good timing to their resume.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:27am

Flipping a light switch in the cell: Quantum dots used for targeted neural ac...
By harnessing quantum dots, researchers have developed a new and vastly more targeted way to stimulate neurons in the brain. Being able to switch neurons on and off and monitor how they communicate with one another is crucial for understanding -- and, ultimately, treating -- a host of brain disorders.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:27am

Unusual 'collapsing' iron superconductor sets record for its class
Scientists have found an iron-based superconductor that operates at the highest known temperature for a material in its class. The discovery inches iron-based superconductors closer to being useful in many practical applications.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:27am

Heart disease may be a risk factor for prostate cancer
In a large analysis of men participating in a prostate drug trial, researchers found a significant correlation between coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, suggesting the two conditions may have shared causes.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:27am

Arsenic criticality poses concern for modern technology
Risks related to the critical nature of arsenic -- used to make high-speed computer chips that contain gallium arsenide -- outstrip those of other substances in a group of critical materials needed to sustain modern technology, a new study has found. Scientists evaluated the relative criticality of arsenic and five related metals.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:27am

'Shish kebab' structure provides improved form of 'buckypaper'
Scientists are reporting development of a new form of buckypaper, which eliminates a major drawback of these sheets of carbon nanotubes -- 50,000 times thinner than a human hair, 10 times lighter than steel, but up to 250 times stronger -- with potential uses ranging from body armor to next-generation batteries.
8 Feb 2012 at 10:27am

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