Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for November 17, 1999


Earth's core may contain 'cold front' of molten iron

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have created a model that suggests a thin jet of relatively cold molten iron is streaming down across the liquid outer core from an area in the mid-Pacific to Earth's solid iron inner core. This 'cold front' could account for irregularities in the magnetic patterns observed over the Pacific.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalScience·DateNov 17, 1999

Researchers turn carbon dioxide into gel

A Yale research team has successfully turned supercritical carbon dioxide into a gel form, which could be used to extract oil from the ground instead of water. The new process is less expensive and more environmentally friendly than traditional methods.

SourceYale University·JournalScience·DateNov 17, 1999

New tool for comparative gene studies

A new technique allows scientists to introduce desired genes directly into embryonic cells using the baculovirus, enabling the study of gene function in non-model organisms. This method has shown promising results in fruit flies, beetles, and other species, offering a breakthrough for understanding developmental processes.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 17, 1999