Science

An image taken with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope of the galaxy cluster SDSS J1038+4849 shows that it seems to be smiling. The space agency says it's the result of a symmetrical alignment of the galaxy cluster and the telescope — along with a powe

From The Cold Depths Of Space, A Smile Emerges

11:41am February 11, 2015

by Bill Chappell

In the Hubble image of a galaxy cluster, two bright galaxies resemble eyes, NASA says, "and the misleading smile lines are actually arcs caused by an effect known as strong gravitational lensing."

A lone polar bear poses on a block of arctic sea ice in Russia's Franz Josef Land.

Arctic Is Warming Twice As Fast As World Average

7:37am February 11, 2015

by Christopher Joyce

Polar bears continue to take a hit in regions with the greatest loss of snow and ice, the latest report card on the Arctic shows. Meanwhile, plankton are thriving as the sea heats up.

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Fish on ice in Palau Misa Island, Indonesia. Thanks to satellite data, John Amos of SkyTruth can track fishing activity near the Pacific island nation from his office in West Virginia.

Gotcha: Satellites Help Strip Seafood Pirates Of Their Booty

5:08pm February 10, 2015

by Christopher Joyce

Most of the seafood Americans eat is imported; a lot of that is illegally caught. Now, environmentalists are using satellites to track pirate vessels on the high seas and help crack down on the trade.

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Science

California's Strawberry Feud Ends, But Who Will Breed New Berries?

5:06pm February 10, 2015

by Dan Charles

Strawberry farmers have dropped a lawsuit against the University of California, Davis, and the university has hired a new strawberry breeder. But the future of academic berry breeding is uncertain.

Vani Hari, known as the "Food Babe," speaks at the Green Festival in Los Angeles on Sept. 12. Hari has made a name for herself by investigating ingredients in Big Food products that she deems potentially harmful. But critics accuse her of stoking unfounde

Is The Food Babe A Fearmonger? Scientists Are Speaking Out

4:52pm February 10, 2015

by Maria Godoy

The food system is awash in chemicals and additives. One woman has made a career out of investigating them. But a cadre of critics says she's creating more confusion than clarity about food.

Marder says immunotherapy has side effects but is less tiring than chemotherapy.

Harnessing The Immune System To Fight Cancer

4:35pm February 10, 2015

by Rob Stein

Our immune systems constantly fight off disease — protecting us from colds, flu and infection. An experimental treatment called immunotherapy is helping patients' immune systems fight off cancer.

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To Get Parents To Vaccinate Their Kids, Don't Ask. Just Tell

1:56pm February 10, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

The way a pediatrician talks with nervous parents about vaccines may determine whether the child gets immunized or not, a study suggests. Asking "What do you want to do about shots?" doesn't work.

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Science

Bilingual Studies Reveal Flaw In How Info Reaches Mainstream

1:04pm February 10, 2015

by Shankar Vedantam

A host of studies and popular reports tout the cognitive benefits of being bilingual. Is that because being bilingual has mental benefits, or because the science is biased?

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Elizabeth Ebinger in Maplewood, N.J., bought her solar panels, while neighbor Tim Roebuck signed a 20-year lease. Both are happy with the approach they took, and both are saving money on energy bills.

The Great Solar Panel Debate: To Lease Or To Buy?

12:12pm February 10, 2015

by Jeff Brady

More homeowners are cutting energy costs by installing solar panels, due in part to leasing programs that require no up-front investment. Leasing means less hassle, but may also save you less money.

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Shake, Rattle And Toll: Berkeley's Bells Play Sounds Of Earth

8:04am February 10, 2015

by Laura Sydell

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the bells of UC Berkeley's Sather Tower were programmed to play a score composed in real time by the data from seismic shifts happening under the campus.

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