Science Elements

What’s next in the quest to unravel what makes us human? Why dumping old drugs trumps flushing. How the inner space of chemistry may be even more dazzling than the farthest reaches of our universe.

Why the latest office scuttlebutt isn’t good news for workers. How a new device speeds up the detection of harmful airborne metals. What scientists are cooking up to reduce indoor air pollution.

Something many people use every day could help soothe lingering pain among laser eye surgery patients. How a new process could lower the cost of a vital drug.  Scientists may be closing in on a way to ditch a mind-boggling itch.

How scientists created the first practical artificial leaf.  How new technology could help nab terrorists. Why sunscreens may be linked to a painful disorder in women.

Why a common spice is a top-notch fat fighter. Unroasted coffee could help accelerate weight loss. How researchers are closing in on a natural way to coax a cancer-fighting compound out of soybeans.

How micro-submarines could help scrub away oil spills.  Why scientists are digging deep to find out more about potentially harmful microbes lurking in sand. How differences in the salt content of rivers and the oceans could help produce a new and sustainable form of energy.

Minute super scrubbers could revitalize laundry detergents. A new fabric coating could help our clothes shrug off gunk. How silk could strangle dangerous microbes before they can harm us.

Why researchers say they have some “berry” good news about the brain.  How putting the kibosh on something called oh-glick-nack might help improve your memory. How an evolving type of artificial memory could add a new dimension to modern computing.

Why the “fearful lizards” of yore could be the smartest kids in the class on some distant planet. How living at a snail’s pace just got a lot more energetic. A new finding about oil and water could turn the world upside downy.

How comets may have set evolution in motion. Why microscopic “spaghetti highways” could help rejuvenate older people. How butterfly wings could boost production of green fuels. What surprising source of antioxidants is popping up in the kitchen?

Why that morning pick-me-up might not be as natural as you think. A tantalizing taste conundrum defies explanation.  What is killing the bees?

How bacteria in our bellies may contribute to weight gain. Why potatoes could help mash high blood pressure without packing on the pounds. Where water shortages are most likely to occur in the next 40 years.

Miracle materials” could help solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.  An ultra-thin material subdues rust.  How a new process led to the discovery of two potent weapons in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria.

How testing for vitamin D deficiency just became more reliable. A hand-held device could revolutionize blood testing. Why smart phones could help keep us a lot healthier.

Skewered nanoparticles could help overcome a big problem.  A microrocket could speed up drug delivery in the body. How science might best address concerns about the safe use of nanomedicines.

A new online tool could help you find out what’s really going up in smoke.  An inexpensive, yet amazingly effective, new material could help slash carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere. How an energetic insect could help power the next generation of electronic devices.

How scientists are closing in on ways to make healthier hot dogs. Why a little-known component of beer could cause digestive havoc in some people. A startling finding could lead to changes down on the watermelon farm.

AHow a substance produced by a “miracle tree” could help quench the worldwide thirst for clean drinking water. Why dew drops do what they do. Why some drug names are such tongue twisters.

How coffee drinking reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes.  A real insight into a “wild card” in your genes.  Advances toward an imaging agent for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.

How dried licorice root fights the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Why some vacuum cleaners actually make things dirtier in your home.  A new medical scanner bears a strong resemblance to a device used on television’s most famous science fiction show.