Catherine Griffin : Science World Report

Nov 27, 2013 09:04 AM EST

Physicists Uncover Forces Behind Whirling Dervishes

Physicists have learned a bit more about the forces that power Whirling Dervishes. They've found that the physics that intricately links the rotation of the Earth with the direction of weather patterns in the atmosphere plays a crucial role in the creation of the hypnotic patterns created by these W...

Nov 27, 2013 08:32 AM EST

Happy, Sane Males Have Better Love Lives

It turns out that happy, sane males have better love lives--or at least, mink do. Scientists have discovered that mink raised in enriched environments are much more successful during the mating season than those that happen to be stressed and upset.

Nov 27, 2013 07:57 AM EST

The Power of Black Friday: People Spend More in 'Pay-it-Forward'

Black Friday is just around the corner, which means that shoppers will be out in full force to take advantage of the holiday sales. Now, it turns out that shoppers spend more money when engaged in a chain of goodwill known as "Pay-it-forward" than when they can name their own price.

Nov 27, 2013 07:36 AM EST

New Stunning Image of Large Magellanic Cloud Reveals Fiery Star Birth and Death

Astronomers are learning a little bit more about the fiery drama of star birth and death with a new, spectacular image from ESO's Very Large Telescope. They've captured a picture of the Large Magellanic Cloud, an object that's actively forming new stars in regions that are so bright that some can ev...

Nov 26, 2013 12:29 PM EST

How Pollution Impacts Storm Clouds in a Big Way

Pollution can affect our climate in multiple ways but now, scientists have found out that it can also affect thunderstorms. It turns out that pollution causes thunderstorms to leave behind larger, deeper, longer lasting clouds, which may play into climate warming.

Nov 26, 2013 11:51 AM EST

Red Squirrels May be Developing Antibodies Against Squirrelpox

Squirrelpox has helped devastate red squirrel populations in the United Kingdom. Now, there may be a bit of good news when it comes to this disease. It turns out that the populations of red squirrels are not only recovering, but they're also developing antibodies to this particular disease.

Nov 26, 2013 10:48 AM EST

New Study Reveals Pollution Causes Coral Reef Bleaching and Disease

Disease and coral bleaching can kill off vast swathes of a reef, which act as crucial nurseries and habitat for fish and other species. Now, scientists have confirmed what they've long suspected; it turns out that nutrient loading can lead to both coral disease and bleaching.

Nov 26, 2013 10:13 AM EST

Comet ISON Update: Will it Survive its Thursday Sun Bath?

Comet ISON is now only days away from our Sun, and it may not make it at this rate. NASA has announced that new data may show that the "comet of the century" could have started to break apart in a dramatic fashion.

Nov 26, 2013 09:25 AM EST

NASA to Launch Sounding Rocket to Peek at Atmosphere of Venus

NASA is planning on getting a closer look at Venus. Just a week after launching a new orbiter to investigate the upper atmosphere of Mars, the space agency is sending a sounding rocket to probe the atmosphere of another planet.

Nov 26, 2013 08:51 AM EST

Broken Cellular Clock Linked to Brain Damage Associated with Alzheimer's

Scientists may have uncovered the reason behind the strong connections between sleep problems and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. It turns out that brain cell damage similar to that seen in Alzheimer's disease and other disorders results when a circadian clock gene that con...

Nov 26, 2013 08:08 AM EST

Swarming Locusts Shed Light on How Brain Processes Smells

Our sense of smell can tell us quite a bit about the environment. We can sniff out food or tell if something foul is nearby. But how does our brain process multiple odors received simultaneously? Using locusts, scientists may have just discovered the answer.

Nov 26, 2013 07:34 AM EST

Which Ancient Minerals on Early Earth Gave Rise to Life?

When life first emerged on Earth, primitive organisms exploited our planet's raw materials. However, origin-of-life models assume that the minerals found on Earth today are the same as they were 550 million years ago. Now, scientists have discovered new evidence that challenges that assumption.