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Mathematics becomes more sociable: H$ Q/ Y1 i6 }1 u: j) {; Y! }
Editorialp5
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& A3 q- b. g1 ]7 ~9 J! z; u8 oThe Polymath project will give the field a new, more friendly, lease of life
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. P* o/ d9 \# E$ Q6 t$ kThe implications of interspecies communication0 t/ Y# ?/ ^/ a# I3 k, ]0 k
Editorialp52 J. N$ T5 A# Q7 S- C4 l
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If dolphins could talk to humans, it would be an unparalleled contribution to the debate about animal rights
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. _$ E D4 g: {0 x8 LWe need another green revolution7 \! }+ q3 f% a! ?: Q& V& i
Editorialp5 k G- x/ b: Z$ e" H
B. p6 k& _( |" CIt is high time we made a new start on enabling major crops to make their own fertiliser0 j# w) L: h+ w, q) }' G2 \
9 @& j1 q) c% X. ^# ^" u' I7 _Elusive Higgs slips from sight again
+ U- R" Q9 |* {: e1 S9 ?* ~" DNews > Upfrontp6
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/ s. a+ X$ ^0 `6 y1 O2 i' d. d+ g4 `A 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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; a9 r. N1 s8 l sOsama bin Laden: how DNA identified his body
3 H [; _: L* T- @% U! h1 FNews > Upfrontp6, O. M I5 j. M) K) o
5 L$ p( R! O: I: r l+ `DNA evidence identified the world's most wanted man with "99.9 per cent confidence", which would require comparison with the DNA of close relatives
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Strange cosmic ray hotspots stalk southern skies0 p( U; O& C4 {$ r- s |
News > Upfrontp6' t! W5 X* J8 k1 Q N2 e9 v0 e
: l: w% N$ s5 DSomething relatively nearby seems to be hurling energetic, charged particles at Earth – but what?# t T1 y: Z: S* N
( p1 P7 y2 u' ?: w& K7 }: E6 k; fMilk miles show why it's hard to go locavore$ |6 r4 q8 p% b7 x
News > Upfrontpp6-7
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* \: \1 d* X) w( x( D- h9 M# b! J7 n3 GCutting the journey of a carton of fresh milk from cow to cup would end up increasing the journey of other dairy products
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. U, ?# m S: [60 Seconds$ @; h7 C$ W6 w) F
News > 60 Secondsp7
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+ U' \( Z+ g# Z7 hAnts that almost as large as hummingbirds, recreational drug kills kidney cells, cooperative robots and more
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Deadly weather in US could become the norm" G( T5 e: d a5 l; M" O) b
News > Upfrontp7
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% `- ~5 }) _3 t+ t$ uWhether or not climate change makes severe weather worse, rising populations mean there are more people in harm's way, researchers say# \/ w0 ~/ n8 _" ~/ L9 i( |
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Painkillers need clearer warnings to prevent liver damage, |/ W! r9 {, u
News > Upfrontp7
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a) ?4 n$ Z w6 yOver-the-counter painkillers need clear warnings to help people recognise their potential toxicity
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" _. A' f7 u4 ?% s% R+ jEvolutionary push could help crops self-fertilise# M* s9 e" p0 x/ c, Z6 ]- g
News > This Weekpp8-9
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3 Y6 j! e! O* A# jAgriculture 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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% x J( k/ V8 e' {; ?4 a- ?! QHow to build the global mathematics brain4 j. u2 Y( j- q- d' r( W
News > This Weekpp10-11$ }: ?5 n! ?/ P, d& w" J
# O, B+ e1 X0 i d+ r) w3 Z# oA successful wiki-style pro-am mathematical project belies the stereotype of the brilliant loner3 B& C# j( n6 ]) R( z& z
5 p; h; [8 [# I2 i/ v0 Z9 Y, s% fAsteroids make life's raw materials( m& g; F! Y. l S% \1 v
News > This Weekp149 O1 A- d: W; F; {- D j. z8 x
8 T2 H- U0 }; e# Z3 cRocks from an asteroid have been shown to power the synthesis of life's essential chemicals for the first time9 U3 Y2 a6 m- D
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Drug pacemaker relieves hassle of daily shots
3 D* W' U* p' x T! [. vNews > This Weekp15
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. w8 F. h6 P, j( I3 {1 y7 `& IA new implant could deliver timed doses of a drug for a year
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; O4 m$ z5 v/ fSecond experiment hints at seasonal dark matter signal' t; E+ F2 N! E, q
News > This Weekp162 }6 v4 O( W9 M( \: }
0 N- G7 m( ~, G4 [0 d5 x: rFor years, one lonely team has been insisting that it sees a seasonal variation in dark matter signals – now another group is reporting similar findings5 v0 n+ H l8 e# B" \4 D% C$ \
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Why do we remember some dreams but not others?
: l1 D9 L* N h# }6 U# c( [News > This Weekp16
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We recall dreams using the same brain mechanisms that control whether we remember things when awake0 R/ }: F; ~/ g, B6 R
6 {1 k: d7 y, X( Y' R: F'Dwarf' black holes might help explain dark matter. _+ |4 \+ U5 S) s$ g B
News > This Weekp183 O D" k& r, [" `! {# U! N5 P
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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 matter5 x; a. X2 R& j; i Y8 D
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Out-of-Africa migration selected novelty-seeking genes
/ A1 O2 f. d/ ]5 W$ XNews > This Weekp18- L3 J2 E' n1 t$ ~' H+ }
9 \& s* f- a, ^As humans migrated around 50,000 years ago, evolution may have latched onto a gene linked to risk-taking and adventurousness2 u; J( p: v& L3 [8 X* C! b
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Brainless box jellyfish know which way is up
: o! C; F+ M/ x2 T# MNews > In Briefp20, w9 l7 f8 q$ w9 J+ ?' V$ ?3 q3 O
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The poisonous jellyfish navigates its mangrove swamp home by peering out of the water at the tree canopy above
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How sickle-cell carriers fend off malaria
3 K. S g4 [, N* L8 U: O/ c4 gNews > In Briefp209 z% t4 @4 ?/ R
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Teasing out the mechanism which helps people with one sickle-cell gene resist malaria suggests new treatments for the disease
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Monkeys show signs of advanced memory powers
* V4 b( l% z; ~7 H& w' sNews > In Briefp206 ?2 o5 X3 e5 B7 @) \
( e1 `7 a1 U9 u: g9 A# k' dRhesus monkeys can do more than simply recognise familiar shapes
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The universe's first stars were whirling dervishes4 z) h0 v+ r) Z; _5 S5 a
News > In Briefp20
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+ i0 i9 z1 n4 P1 W: e' NThe 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
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A sideways look suggests leaning tower will topple7 W" U+ L7 r0 S8 m+ W( D. a$ s
News > In Briefp218 e) q$ M7 O1 X: l
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Your evaluation of whether an object is going to fall over depends on which way your head is tilted1 ~0 t- k9 J# h3 q$ X
. b6 j" P% v: l {, \Fleeting antimatter trapped for a quarter of an hour
2 e* a" |2 o3 F: V6 INews > In Briefp217 ? Q: f6 b/ R8 X5 T5 w
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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 years3 D7 `. M) ~9 x2 x& Z' o7 l; E
+ B/ E: T! v% ]6 \' p5 m* eGhostly nebulae show mysterious alignment
% o3 r& @2 r6 @& q/ _# sNews > In Briefp21& U7 r& `# P; \9 h( o7 c0 o) }
* \. a9 j. E/ TElongated 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
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Heart attacks are more dangerous in the morning
* ~& Z; v& v, T$ INews > In Briefp21
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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
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Talk with a dolphin via underwater translation machine9 T; E9 ~2 P& m! A2 P& W. Q! [
Technology > Newspp23-249 {( p* d; }4 v5 F) \
9 g" s0 R- r4 D* Q: i XA computer system that divers can wear may bridge the language barrier between us and dolphins
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In-car projection for drive-by advertising
8 _" _) v( ]& S9 ITechnology > Newsp24: b) z/ V' ~ L- i6 _& V
1 E2 j! J6 q+ x# xA new display technology could turn car windows into roving 3D advertisements, but will this compromise safety?4 v- R: J s D% h$ L0 p
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Know where the wind blows to boost power grid capacity
/ x1 @7 ?5 }/ m2 |3 }Technology > Newspp24-25
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Cooler 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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One Per Cent
, V; ^! v' u# Q5 W# {Technology > Newsp25
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Sony admits users' data theft, bendy caterpillar robot and free Wi-Fi for everyone?
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5 J, c4 R" i! {/ E: g; EToughening up vulnerable networks one link at a time
# F* W/ @, O( I' E+ D) F, i ^. STechnology > Newsp26
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A simple way to strengthen networks could protect critical infrastructure from terrorist attack
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Time to put weather forecasters on the spot
5 c' v3 O) w/ m! m/ T) ]Comment and Analysispp28-29
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/ v- J1 f. D1 H) z- G1 z0 rThe reliability of weather forecasts is surprisingly hard to measure. The BBC's Weather Test will make amends, says Roger Harrabin
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# U6 t: t& E* S; k7 \US navy chief: I'm on a mission to stop using oil
1 S9 b, f3 @$ s! TOpinion > Interviewp29
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From biofuelled fighter jets to solar power-generating blankets, Ray Mabus wants to wean the US navy off fossil fuels1 c- S- y/ l5 {) C+ _1 T
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Free debate" ~; f. g" F$ |0 f
Lettersp30
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! T2 e/ q6 N4 `4 A# g. xDan Jones's article (16 April, p 32) explores whether a mechanistic, and therefore deterministic, view of what we are degrades our view of ourselves...
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1 g5 ^& w( ]" c6 z( d q7 `- [6 oHappiness paradox
, @$ [& `+ j( L7 e( l6 zLetterspp30-31, m+ H% D5 j& v1 B) m
/ @" f( f" _6 t% ~( jThe special report on happiness (16 April, p 46) did not mention the Easterlin paradox, that the average happiness of developed nations has not generally...! T$ g C2 Y9 J8 [, D
- g+ _& i/ k* |8 DBlast the waste, B& z+ ~0 `$ V( G1 T0 |! R' h' F
Lettersp31
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$ W' E) h0 o$ I, y7 R1 qThe 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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; o( U/ }; p$ h" v xFor the record- |" D: g3 I$ D' O( ]
Lettersp31
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- C: o& V+ C# o8 x1 a2 {• 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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Growth must slow
% h( T7 ]+ k* x- J" lLettersp31" @9 i& [: O* l/ X
) T4 ]) R) o' D; NAchim Steiner's article (16 April, p 28) about the conflict between agricultural expansion and conservation appears to assume a growing world population is inevitable...6 Z+ o( `' r& I- N/ G
2 p4 Y" C2 `0 {The name game+ R! ~5 p8 I7 Z1 \' Y
Lettersp31
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The misleadingly easy quiz questions that John Chen came across (Feedback, 9 April) have been around for years. I recently used them as an icebreaker...: u9 @4 P' J# h8 m& A7 c: S* x
8 i( c; i8 |+ T3 FWealth disorder?
4 T) r" S0 q1 u# a6 ?! ~" k0 ALettersp316 A, z i# `* G0 n
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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"...! f6 Q6 r o! A- h7 i/ E
! K& ~# D$ A u. qEnigma Number 16456 j l9 E0 N/ r/ M% X% T
Opinion > Enigmap31- N+ e% B% T6 G+ A0 [6 `- \( e
6 _8 l- C+ |: ^& [8 iFive roboethical principles – for humans8 j+ z4 ^5 _' c
Opinion > The Big Ideapp32-33
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' V3 u ^% B, j0 n* WScience fiction primes us to expect robots to run amok. But as they go mainstream, it's still us that need policing, argues Alan Winfield
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6 k& C& A3 p# X1 N3 dThe limits of knowledge: Things we'll never understand/ |4 N( `# l5 [( \, i/ d- B7 R$ n( Y
Features > Cover Storypp34-39
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/ u$ e) ^7 ^: Q! k g( L, q: wFrom 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
$ p# J1 a! ~2 b# s: \Features > Featurepp40-43
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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
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% S! C2 z* B# [! x6 }7 x4 IBlue alert: The dark side of night light2 @3 F% [/ p. W/ ^' P" _9 Z- C- T
Features > Featurepp44-47, J8 ~; V$ j) E+ R, K
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From 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% c4 _# p+ z0 r
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Exploring animals' emotional experiences
; o7 J# {' i c8 T J8 ]! _Opinion > CultureLabp487 Q# w# v( g, b# [2 E6 K
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Jonathan Balcombe's The Exultant Ark is an exploration of the nascent research into animal pleasure, replete with emotive photographs0 W( [' j& g" Q% f0 }6 U
. H+ g8 p m/ i) I, v8 t/ dCool viruses from pox to pandemics) H% e4 E- @2 g) t
Opinion > CultureLabp49- U; S" o/ i4 F; F; X. y5 U: P
+ Z) l+ p# ]9 v. d a% sA Planet of Viruses by Carl Zimmer has plenty of "wow" moments. Shame about the lack of context and simplistic faith in science4 W: r* e% G: J+ X6 K, e, k+ l3 S
: _1 z0 W/ G9 I7 I" x. Z. I UThe birth and rise of batteries
% j I- e F) h3 x5 f0 YOpinion > CultureLabp49$ A. s% k3 x% M! Y3 @0 D
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Bottled 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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The modern marvel of magnetic levitation8 k7 {* S8 x% b) J" P, }$ G5 u- d
Opinion > CultureLabp49
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: F2 O1 T' C* ]* k; |In Rising Force, James Livingston soars to the heady heights of maglev and floats the idea that the technology could still have commercial success9 Z) U- ^( ^* P" N7 y0 P" {- Q
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Astrobiology: Are we alone in the universe?5 H, w" z/ j4 K1 p* o& r
Features > Instant Expert
z4 l$ l7 @2 y; ^$ A& T* oIt is only with the gigantic telescopes and interplanetary probes of the space age that we finally have a realistic hope of answering the question
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. ^# {) H% ~( I6 y3 H2 EAstrobiology: Are we unique?
. v. D9 h9 `6 J M( t4 e8 gFeatures > Instant Expert
1 E: y: R2 m- X' A1 s6 ^Finding irrefutable signs of any life beyond Earth would surely be one of the most revolutionary discoveries for human science and society
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2 F5 s! I7 a' KAstrobiology: Hot topics in the search for ET8 Y2 J' }! r0 \( R' G) L
Features > Instant Expert8 L, V1 H' ^2 L
As 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 E6 U8 r* D j" R5 g8 o7 z
7 h1 u R! k8 m) i3 G2 NAstrobiology: The hunt for alien life
7 R4 Q5 r* |, R; i- ]Features > Instant Expert0 p2 R- t1 Z% V0 b
Powerful 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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Feedback: Redundant gestures get the thumbs up
$ p0 g) a G+ o. h; B* M5 w" iFeedbackp56
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% }/ o. y$ W U- H/ ^Let 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 more, w) V' q% P' \; D K7 V% b
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Happy feet9 n4 G& l8 @" s) l/ } t" O6 p
The Last Word > Last Word Answerp57 S0 _5 Q* {$ k7 |* D
# i4 N: t' ], n" N, b+ ]1 q# p2 G/ YGerroff1 P# x1 h. V$ F5 e3 n6 E
The Last Word > Last Word Questionp57
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No Skidding
. t/ d- O. B& |The Last Word > Last Word Questionp57: x. }6 {- @" Q0 b9 D, r% ^0 I: d
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Water marked% D4 x' Q' t4 ?5 a; d* U# }, H4 P
The Last Word > Last Word Questionp57; K7 _+ J5 A9 H, C$ m+ @8 I! V
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发表于 2011-5-8 21:41
