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Mathematics becomes more sociable
& \5 ]3 I+ t; I1 q4 KEditorialp5. r; i4 |3 i. O2 d' W* v) {
" _; @1 Q. Y9 A3 z2 I( H/ `$ ]5 YThe Polymath project will give the field a new, more friendly, lease of life* e1 c K8 d- h" W4 i
6 b0 W2 O3 }3 J9 w( \2 DThe implications of interspecies communication/ Q7 {( X4 H0 t4 \7 E" I" s3 ?0 ~9 ^
Editorialp5# i+ {$ H; @+ d6 E
$ f w: ^! ~6 O4 I# }If dolphins could talk to humans, it would be an unparalleled contribution to the debate about animal rights
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% P" L$ t/ `8 _We need another green revolution" v! [# q+ `5 z4 u# d4 [
Editorialp54 m; Q, y9 g* {' z9 N7 ?" W* S" q
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It is high time we made a new start on enabling major crops to make their own fertiliser
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! j9 [8 p. }% |Elusive Higgs slips from sight again' W7 z+ m6 ~! U1 }. M% c- p
News > Upfrontp6; m1 {7 F5 h G1 M
6 }% J% d( W7 d I1 L" I6 c, MA recent report hinted at a glimpse of the long-sought particle but a second detector has now checked its own data and found no sign of the particle
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2 l$ `+ `1 O; u! N n- {( IOsama bin Laden: how DNA identified his body& \6 ^: N/ j; q9 S/ u
News > Upfrontp63 b& W. o3 R5 ^; P! `4 K! X
; w6 O ]$ h* O ~7 eDNA evidence identified the world's most wanted man with "99.9 per cent confidence", which would require comparison with the DNA of close relatives# N# Z3 c1 J1 k# i6 s0 x% h t
0 W8 {5 b# R* K$ oStrange cosmic ray hotspots stalk southern skies
b% {- F7 W/ \; u4 [2 F2 y: x6 FNews > Upfrontp6
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Something relatively nearby seems to be hurling energetic, charged particles at Earth – but what?7 E" y( p% `$ `5 _/ C z/ ?
& s9 G" J2 U6 J: F/ \Milk miles show why it's hard to go locavore
, R: U; d/ Z1 Y8 ZNews > Upfrontpp6-7
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Cutting the journey of a carton of fresh milk from cow to cup would end up increasing the journey of other dairy products" k2 X4 C1 b/ y3 N3 j& ^
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60 Seconds
0 R+ _7 A0 w' t5 ?: e p7 n# R. xNews > 60 Secondsp75 q" G1 d" ?' J# w* O* m9 Y3 h
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Ants that almost as large as hummingbirds, recreational drug kills kidney cells, cooperative robots and more y9 x# J& v! g6 A$ p2 Q) Z
C2 |$ f$ I9 U. N$ R' o) s, QDeadly weather in US could become the norm
% y9 ^9 F( ?( YNews > Upfrontp72 ~8 I7 J. Q* f
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Whether or not climate change makes severe weather worse, rising populations mean there are more people in harm's way, researchers say3 E5 S8 ?, Q# G4 t; k( W( u
( n1 `4 X( Y7 M; yPainkillers need clearer warnings to prevent liver damage
\9 v/ k0 u0 @" p) y' iNews > Upfrontp7( u2 L) m! ?2 J6 {
2 K9 ~" B, n0 ^3 tOver-the-counter painkillers need clear warnings to help people recognise their potential toxicity0 I: t7 ?2 H' U' v4 @' `2 {% j
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Evolutionary push could help crops self-fertilise( |5 C& B- e! z0 @: \ p, X
News > This Weekpp8-9
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Agriculture would be transformed if crops could produce fertiliser as legumes do. New research suggests it might be easier than we thought
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5 B& P- Q4 N+ N* dHow to build the global mathematics brain$ `9 D# X4 o4 V5 C4 M _
News > This Weekpp10-114 K- v6 {( W# n) M ?! Q
- P0 F/ m3 H$ G# y; g* pA successful wiki-style pro-am mathematical project belies the stereotype of the brilliant loner& a7 D- v |4 Y. I( ]2 _& ~; E
) P: Z3 n/ P$ G# b1 E& z4 w$ G1 hAsteroids make life's raw materials [6 z0 |+ P2 e, C6 p" I" h
News > This Weekp14
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Rocks from an asteroid have been shown to power the synthesis of life's essential chemicals for the first time9 m1 j/ d+ M* K& z( i) K( A
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Drug pacemaker relieves hassle of daily shots: a, A, i3 ^: @, W3 m
News > This Weekp15
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: s& S, d; ]* ~; I- X1 v2 R) PA new implant could deliver timed doses of a drug for a year
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2 L! N/ }* u$ r7 |Second experiment hints at seasonal dark matter signal
; g( x d- h7 Z5 G4 Y# RNews > This Weekp16
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For years, one lonely team has been insisting that it sees a seasonal variation in dark matter signals – now another group is reporting similar findings
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Why do we remember some dreams but not others?3 u; v* j$ t# t& K
News > This Weekp16
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We recall dreams using the same brain mechanisms that control whether we remember things when awake
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'Dwarf' black holes might help explain dark matter
6 l1 x2 |2 Z8 o+ nNews > This Weekp18
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Black holes might come in more sizes than small, medium and large – if so, mini black holes could contribute to the universe's mysterious dark matter2 B. m( X& f1 w( V8 G: ?7 J
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Out-of-Africa migration selected novelty-seeking genes
9 [& L! H9 I& F% P/ s1 y) M" L+ ]( sNews > This Weekp18
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As humans migrated around 50,000 years ago, evolution may have latched onto a gene linked to risk-taking and adventurousness9 t$ K) D6 N. u
3 V' y& c/ e% X: m: _/ P( R# _Brainless box jellyfish know which way is up! A- c6 V: r8 F/ @' z- t0 ^8 S/ r
News > In Briefp20
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& k8 f8 w, H7 p5 c/ V7 u. V' ]8 kThe poisonous jellyfish navigates its mangrove swamp home by peering out of the water at the tree canopy above+ M* ]' ]7 y) J( Z/ {) q7 t% v5 L! O
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How sickle-cell carriers fend off malaria
3 ~7 v H% n) b0 Y, }$ W$ p' ?6 [4 BNews > In Briefp20; u' {' d/ h6 t* F- y6 _
7 ^2 |7 Z3 o5 F \5 D4 pTeasing out the mechanism which helps people with one sickle-cell gene resist malaria suggests new treatments for the disease' Q( }% U7 z' P: @9 v
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Monkeys show signs of advanced memory powers( v+ Z5 k8 s9 }3 Z
News > In Briefp208 E' T# q7 y3 d
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Rhesus monkeys can do more than simply recognise familiar shapes3 p( a* \7 }% e! M$ z4 s
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The universe's first stars were whirling dervishes
2 v0 k8 t! j# INews > In Briefp20
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The very first stars may have rotated several times faster than today's – the "spinstars" may have died in gamma-ray bursts that we could yet observe G( x7 D8 A4 n; x, ~ ~+ L
( h& l4 ~# p9 m7 TA sideways look suggests leaning tower will topple$ I6 Q* }2 ^) _. R1 r% z
News > In Briefp21
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$ q! a, H1 P D& UYour evaluation of whether an object is going to fall over depends on which way your head is tilted
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Fleeting antimatter trapped for a quarter of an hour& @" n. R" b( k/ m) z
News > In Briefp21
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A magnetic trap has held anti-atoms for 1000 seconds, which should allow tests of whether matter and antimatter are true mirror images in a few years
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Ghostly nebulae show mysterious alignment
0 j, u# ^/ k9 K) xNews > In Briefp21
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- r( ` S$ Q& \, I3 ^) fElongated nebulae in the centre of our galaxy seem to lie in the same plane as the galactic disc, hinting at a mysterious alignment of stars in the region# }+ ^; o9 {; d
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Heart attacks are more dangerous in the morning
1 V* l9 V# X% \, U& q, H4 m9 ^" tNews > In Briefp21. M; w& w: j$ v0 `$ M: ?4 I
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Heart attacks that occur between 6am and noon appear more dangerous than those that occur in the afternoon, possibly due to fluctuating levels of protective proteins+ P. p. E! s8 A2 d: C- ^7 r! a* F
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Talk with a dolphin via underwater translation machine
5 a8 I# e5 j# W( TTechnology > Newspp23-24
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A computer system that divers can wear may bridge the language barrier between us and dolphins( P: k/ ]9 n2 _' o" R; |: r
$ j1 G4 H6 \- r/ L s$ j XIn-car projection for drive-by advertising2 y# \: ~6 g+ C/ ?& P) R
Technology > Newsp24
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A new display technology could turn car windows into roving 3D advertisements, but will this compromise safety?, ?+ ?; Z- s& v+ ^( g; ^
$ a: Y( n: s, N6 [Know where the wind blows to boost power grid capacity
) ~* u: j* q: Q' q. r( y5 [* sTechnology > Newspp24-251 e$ m1 B, r. R+ L/ @
4 \9 [6 l, ]% Z2 n H# nCooler cables can carry more power – with a dynamic model that shows what the wind is doing, power companies could send more juice down the line
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: b7 Z3 Z# s. eOne Per Cent
, v E* M M hTechnology > Newsp25
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6 c6 { l7 y3 ?# ISony admits users' data theft, bendy caterpillar robot and free Wi-Fi for everyone?1 _9 ?; `& w; R: s+ E3 P4 w
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Toughening up vulnerable networks one link at a time
o' _8 s# Q# u P/ D% C% kTechnology > Newsp26$ h1 s( I6 B- C" J
& g; A/ u0 s4 `( G/ \A simple way to strengthen networks could protect critical infrastructure from terrorist attack8 I G7 J, j' `- U3 N0 |" [
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Time to put weather forecasters on the spot. K" ]/ _; u/ s) |
Comment and Analysispp28-29
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The reliability of weather forecasts is surprisingly hard to measure. The BBC's Weather Test will make amends, says Roger Harrabin
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0 u9 Y( o/ B! R9 x7 r0 [US navy chief: I'm on a mission to stop using oil+ z' A- t5 |4 X$ ]7 k" z/ k
Opinion > Interviewp29
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From biofuelled fighter jets to solar power-generating blankets, Ray Mabus wants to wean the US navy off fossil fuels/ u& w; ?! ^3 f3 d: _" f
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Free debate. i6 e$ }1 N" {+ z. @
Lettersp30
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Dan Jones's article (16 April, p 32) explores whether a mechanistic, and therefore deterministic, view of what we are degrades our view of ourselves...6 U" f/ I( v3 W* J, f! O
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Happiness paradox, ^3 R% Y( `2 v6 H" p
Letterspp30-31) [, q$ ^0 [( `) k. ~* A6 U
0 Y3 U3 v, r0 K$ `+ H7 SThe special report on happiness (16 April, p 46) did not mention the Easterlin paradox, that the average happiness of developed nations has not generally...
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Blast the waste
/ t( X/ v- U+ k/ }: v2 ZLettersp316 G5 t* u$ m ~& R( f* D
. S z6 ]( {8 CThe advantages of thorium nuclear power (26 March, p 8) seem mostly unproven in practice, and the technology will probably take more than a decade...
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For the record
# y0 H: y: P& d x0 X6 v- oLettersp31
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• A conversion error made as our feature about cockroaches (16 April, p 40) was being prepared for publication led to the radiation doses we quoted...
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4 u$ c. _& y" S4 s( X; FGrowth must slow
5 C0 ?4 D1 ~% n* k6 T% w; eLettersp31* I$ ~9 z3 p: y" F6 J
; y$ { E1 o p% g0 S0 T0 k$ ` CAchim Steiner's article (16 April, p 28) about the conflict between agricultural expansion and conservation appears to assume a growing world population is inevitable...- C& m9 ?# M: G" |# A$ {
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The name game
1 e- i( D( N* Q4 {7 R/ K' VLettersp31
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+ y9 q6 {( M0 U8 N/ X( {' F8 oThe misleadingly easy quiz questions that John Chen came across (Feedback, 9 April) have been around for years. I recently used them as an icebreaker...
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Wealth disorder?$ ]$ M* W( f; @
Lettersp31
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I found Jessica Hamzelou's article on psychopaths very interesting (9 April, p 8). She stated that the study showed "brain areas involved in reward"...
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# q5 A) y8 o8 y0 a5 qEnigma Number 1645/ u" f! E. S; Y+ }
Opinion > Enigmap31
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Five roboethical principles – for humans
" i, [0 x. t7 M4 \$ VOpinion > The Big Ideapp32-33
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2 u! A/ Y2 z4 R% ~Science fiction primes us to expect robots to run amok. But as they go mainstream, it's still us that need policing, argues Alan Winfield; D& S3 s1 w% M R& w7 [
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The limits of knowledge: Things we'll never understand
# k `% W# W! f5 N7 HFeatures > Cover Storypp34-39
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+ F# z C2 {- x: U: Q1 {From the machinery of life to the fate of the cosmos, is there anything science can't explain? Yes, says Michael Brooks
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Out with a bang: The Tevatron's deathbed revelation
; C' o; F2 J7 ]( A9 E/ xFeatures > Featurepp40-43: \$ ` j4 Y( `# `
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With just months before the iconic particle accelerator is dismantled, physicists are racing to confirm a tantalising glimpse of unexpected new particles! }5 s/ N9 ^6 B6 [4 A, p
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Blue alert: The dark side of night light
( ? y- w1 ~( A2 U0 g% jFeatures > Featurepp44-47
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1 R! j& S( B9 o& A, c- B+ \* MFrom streetlights to smartphones, our world is bathed in artificial light – and we're only just waking up to the profound effect it has on us
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Exploring animals' emotional experiences; N: T1 p2 s, b8 i5 t& F% @
Opinion > CultureLabp48, K1 y$ ~% r% a! H! P- _8 n$ J
5 p, Q! L E+ KJonathan Balcombe's The Exultant Ark is an exploration of the nascent research into animal pleasure, replete with emotive photographs
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; F; |& `; G+ hCool viruses from pox to pandemics
6 c a, B1 U8 ?: x7 z+ z* HOpinion > CultureLabp49
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A Planet of Viruses by Carl Zimmer has plenty of "wow" moments. Shame about the lack of context and simplistic faith in science
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The birth and rise of batteries( t9 N4 M* ^( J0 `
Opinion > CultureLabp49
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( n* ~ d' n4 h- kBottled Lightning by Seth Fletcher is a compelling tale of using science to solve a global problem and illuminating for anybody interested in innovation
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( d( g9 N) z; f) z: [( p3 ~The modern marvel of magnetic levitation
9 F( {. \* P' C+ b' A; NOpinion > CultureLabp49
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In Rising Force, James Livingston soars to the heady heights of maglev and floats the idea that the technology could still have commercial success6 s! v! [1 e. y% G1 v. I
3 L! V5 R4 ^' \. K$ S4 mAstrobiology: Are we alone in the universe?# u( X' e, `: x8 l7 X% H0 }
Features > Instant Expert0 e* y4 b( A7 b
It is only with the gigantic telescopes and interplanetary probes of the space age that we finally have a realistic hope of answering the question, \. d- Z7 y! r2 D, ?3 W
* D- e% q/ \" Y; y6 c- y+ U4 g7 tAstrobiology: Are we unique?
) L+ K) ^5 [) a+ C+ y! G4 gFeatures > Instant Expert. A* N. e* L( H: [" y+ r6 w
Finding irrefutable signs of any life beyond Earth would surely be one of the most revolutionary discoveries for human science and society6 I+ x/ l' N9 G q5 G3 L3 e3 K
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Astrobiology: Hot topics in the search for ET
+ t2 x, B* h! X. `1 XFeatures > Instant Expert
0 ?8 t( g; _" P! [ d/ u& n5 H8 TAs more and more exoplanets are discovered by ever-better telescopes, we're refining our ideas about how to spot signs of life – and where to look for it& F% i0 t' v& x" o: G
% V$ R% i- U/ ] TAstrobiology: The hunt for alien life
+ G0 f- U' E; bFeatures > Instant Expert
* x9 b1 C. i- P9 f1 bPowerful telescopes, clever astronomy and trips to some of Earth's most extreme and remote places are helping identify the most promising places to start
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5 H! Y; m3 K0 TFeedback: Redundant gestures get the thumbs up) b. f& z( `& L9 Y2 G9 V; x5 B
Feedbackp56/ u5 N* p* j2 O) \; e: J
" R4 [7 ^# t9 `3 W$ n+ nLet your fingers do the talking – old style, wallpaper made of paper that you put on walls, a job you can put off for 224 years, and more4 Y( U f) G0 B U
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Happy feet
9 }0 a8 o. b% F. k( |9 t: sThe Last Word > Last Word Answerp57
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" G! S6 G% W3 i* c7 w$ `* o. [Gerroff" t4 e( }7 f' C, g; Y- r
The Last Word > Last Word Questionp57# v4 r; C* c5 k9 T
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No Skidding
! o9 w }% x! R" N. y2 \0 Z5 jThe Last Word > Last Word Questionp57
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Water marked
n7 }, U/ u" w( iThe Last Word > Last Word Questionp57
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发表于 2011-5-8 21:40
