Scientists discovered silica mineral quartz in a primitive meteorite, becoming the first in the world to present direct evidence of silica condensation within the solar protoplanetary disk. They also found ultrarefractory scandium- and zirconium-bearing minerals in the meteorite, which implies that the minerals condensed from nebular gas over a wide temperature range.
Indoor air researchers recently tested seven consumer-grade air quality monitors to see if they could detect fine particles emitted by common household activities, including cooking, burning candles, and smoking. All of the monitors tested by researchers were found to have either underreported or missed the presence of very small particles that can penetrate deeply into the lungs.
A new study tracked birds in suburban Seattle and found that as long as tree cover remains above a certain threshold, pileated woodpeckers and housing developments can coexist.
Researchers have analyzed why certain people tend to put tasks off rather than tackling them directly. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), they identified two brain areas whose volume and functional connectivity are linked to an individual's ability to control their actions.
To offset CO2 emissions, China is reforesting. If a mixture of tree species instead of monocultures were planted, much more carbon could be stored. An international team has shown that species-rich forest ecosystems take up more CO2 from the atmosphere and store more carbon in biomass and soil, making them more effective against climate change.
Magnetic stimulation of the lower spinal cord through the skin enabled five men with spinal-cord injuries to recover significant urination control for up to two weeks. The new approach could enhance patients' quality of life by increasing independence and reducing reliance on a catheter to empty the bladder.
Lithium-ion batteries used in consumer electronics are notorious for bursting into flame when damaged. These incidents occasionally have grave consequences, ranging from burns to house fires to the crash of an airplane. Inspired by the weird behavior of some liquids that solidify on impact, researchers have developed a practical and inexpensive method to prevent these fires. They will present their results today at the 256th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
A root canal ranks high on most people's list of dreaded dental procedures, and it results in a dead tooth susceptible to further decay. Now scientists have developed a peptide hydrogel designed to regenerate dental pulp after a root canal, preserving the tooth.
Our brains have an 'auto-correct' feature that we deploy when re-interpreting ambiguous sounds, a team of scientists has discovered. Its findings point to new ways we use information and context to aid in speech comprehension.
Soil organic carbon stocks are the amount of organic carbon found in soil. There are several common ways of measuring these stocks. Until now they were all believed to give pretty much the same results. New research shows not all tools give the same results.