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Science News for July 9, 1997


Bilinguals Devote Distinct Areas Of The Brain To Native And Second Languages

Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that bilingual individuals who acquire a second language as young adults have distinct brain areas associated with their native and second languages. This information may be useful for neurosurgeons navigating around the brain's language-sensitive areas during surgery.

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·JournalNature·DateJul 9, 1997

Single Polymers: They Vibrate Harmoniously, Unknot Unpredictably

Researchers found that individual polymer vibrations can be accurately described by a linear theory, similar to the vibrations of a musical string. The study used DNA strands and optical tweezers to analyze their movements, finding a high accuracy rate of over 1 percent up to the eighth harmonic.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature·DateJul 9, 1997