Catherine Griffin : Science World Report

Dec 09, 2014 09:25 AM EST

Hummingbirds' Keen Eyes Are What Allow It to Hover Over Flowers

Hummingbirds are known for their ability to flit and fly, hovering in place before darting away to a different location. Now, scientists have taken a closer look at a hummingbird's ability to hover and have found that it hinges on the fact that the tiny bird has a completely stationary visual field.

Dec 09, 2014 08:58 AM EST

NASA Mars Rover Curiosity Reveals How Water Carved Mount Sharp

Scientists are learning a bit more about the role of water on Mars, thanks to observations by Curiosity. They've found that the Red Planet's Mount Sharp was built by sediments deposited in a large lake bed over tens of millions of years.

Dec 09, 2014 08:22 AM EST

Physicists Break World Record for Compact Particle Accelerator with Powerful Laser

Soon, researchers may be dealing with a compact accelerator. Using one of the most powerful lasers in the world, physicists have accelerated subatomic particles to the highest energies ever recorded from a compact accelerator.

Dec 09, 2014 07:50 AM EST

How Snake Venom Evolved: Genes Reveal It Wasn't Always Toxic

A new study challenges the practice of gene mapping while also developing a new model of how venom first evolved.

Dec 09, 2014 07:20 AM EST

The Mystery of Titan's Sand Dunes: Winds are Powerful on Saturn's Moon

Scientists have taken a closer look at one of Titan's unusual features, its dunes, and have found that winds must blow far faster and more violently than previously thought.

Dec 09, 2014 06:43 AM EST

Warm Gas Streaming from a Galaxy Stops Star Formation Cold

It turns out that when it comes to creating new stars, a cool cosmic environment is the best policy. Scientists have discovered a surge of warm gas that flowed into a nearby galaxy extinguished star formation by agitating the available chilled gas.

Dec 08, 2014 02:06 PM EST

Soft, Caribbean Gorgonian Corals Fight Against Ocean Acidification

It turns out that tropical shallow-water soft corals may actually be resistant to ocean acidification.

Dec 08, 2014 01:16 PM EST

Drugs in the Environment May Impact How Crops and Plants Grow

Edible crops may be affected by drugs. By assessing a range of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, scientists have found that even at very low concentrations, crops can be affected.

Dec 08, 2014 12:00 PM EST

Highest Ever Efficiency for Converting Sunlight to Electricity Reported

Converting sunlight to electricity is becoming more and more efficient over time. Now, scientists have managed the feat with over 40 percent efficiency, which is the highest ever efficiency reported.

Dec 08, 2014 11:24 AM EST

First X-Ray Diffraction Measurements of Mars Soil Samples Reveal Planet History

Could there be life on Mars? Scientists are learning a bit more about the planet after analyzing soil samples from the Red Planet after NASA's rover Curiosity landed in the Gale crater.

Dec 08, 2014 10:44 AM EST

Early Ocean Current Warning Signs May Herald Abrupt Climate Change

It turns out that abrupt climate change may be possible. Scientists have found early warning signals of a reorganization of the Atlantic ocean's circulation, which could have a profound impact on the global climate system.

Dec 08, 2014 10:05 AM EST

El Niño's Past 21000 Years Predicts Changes in Future Climate

El Niño, the weather system that can cause massive changes in climate, is important to understand when it comes to predicting how it influences future conditions.