Catherine Griffin : Science World Report

Oct 17, 2013 12:58 PM EDT

Scientists Create Disease-Eating Viruses that Target Superbugs

There may be a new way to target superbugs. Scientists have isolated viruses that eat bacteria, called phages, and have caused them to specifically target the highly infectious hospital superbug called Clostridium difficile.

Oct 17, 2013 11:55 AM EDT

County Fair Bullfrogs are Better Jumpers: Why Rosie the Ribbiter Leaps so Far

Every year, bullfrog "jockeys" at the Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee encourage their frogs to jump the furthest. This display of amphibian prowess isn't just a fun event to watch, though, it may also have implications for science.

Oct 17, 2013 10:56 AM EDT

Without Plants, a Red-Hot Earth Would Cook Under Billions of Tons of Carbon

The Earth is continuing to warm as environmental conditions shift and change. But how much worse would this warming be if we didn't have the benefit of plants to help capture carbon? It turns out that plants have been absorbing billions of tons of carbon, especially during the past 60 years, and wit...

Oct 17, 2013 10:16 AM EDT

Yawn Contagion Grows as Chimps Age: It's Not Just Humans

When someone else yawns nearby, you may feel like yawning yourself. This particular phenomenon is known as yawn contagion and is widely seen in humans. Yet we're not the only ones that have "contagious" yawns. It turns out that chimps also suffer from yawn contagion and that their susceptibility to ...

Oct 17, 2013 09:37 AM EDT

New Sky Survey Captures Key Details of Two Spectacular Cosmic Explosions

Sky surveys can capture quite a bit of information about our Universe. Now, a recent survey has captured key details about two cosmic explosions. It's gathered information about the progenitor of a rare type of supernova in a nearby galaxy and has also spotted the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst.

Oct 17, 2013 08:36 AM EDT

Scientists Use Cyborg Insect Swarm to Map Dangerous Environments

Scientists have discovered a new way to map unknown environments: cyborg swarms. They're employing masses of insect robots, also known as "biobots," in order to investigate locales that may be too dangerous for humans, such as collapsed buildings.

Oct 17, 2013 07:54 AM EDT

Super-Luminous Supernovae Powered by Magnetars: New Light Shed on Star Death

Supernovae are some of the brightest stars in the universe, exploding in a super-luminous display that our telescopes can pick up. Now, scientists have discovered what might be the source of power for these dying stars. It turns out that they may be fueled by magnetars.

Oct 16, 2013 12:32 PM EDT

Robotic Leg Has Natural Gait: Scientists Help Amputees with New Artificial Limb

Walking isn't as easy as you might think. Balance and coordination need to be taken into account, especially when creating artificial limbs. For years, researchers have attempted to great an artificial leg with a natural gait--no easy task. Now, though, scientists may have taken a giant step toward ...

Oct 16, 2013 11:14 AM EDT

ALMA Reveals How Supermassive Black Holes and Their Jets Drive Galaxy Evolution

Supermassive black holes can be found at the hearts of almost all galaxies in the universe, including the Milky Way galaxy. Now, scientists have probed these massive black holes and their jets, finding out how the interplay between them and their surroundings drive galaxy evolution.

Oct 16, 2013 09:59 AM EDT

New 3D Method Can Grow Miniature Pancreas: Help for Diabetes

There may be a new way to help fight diabetes. Scientists have successful developed an innovative 3D method to grow a miniature pancreas from progenitor cells.

Oct 16, 2013 09:26 AM EDT

The Mechanism Behind Chronic Itching: Why You Scratch

Do you feel itchy? Ever spend a sleepless night scratching? Now, scientists have revealed the mechanism behind chronic itching, which could help develop treatments in the future.

Oct 16, 2013 09:01 AM EDT

Eavesdropping on the Brain: Mind-Reading Devices Could be Possible in the Future

Could we read minds? Scientists are certainly one step closer after this latest study. Researchers have managed to collect the first solid evidence that the pattern of brain activity seen in someone performing a mathematical exercise under experimentally controlled conditions very similar to that ob...