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Science News for January 22, 2003


Help for inner city kids

A study published in the Journal of Environmental Quality found that compost can reduce lead levels in contaminated soil by 20-38%. This approach has been implemented in pilot programs in Baltimore and East St. Louis, showing promising initial results.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateJan 22, 2003

Columbia research reveals that Gulf Stream is not responsible for mild winters in Europe

The study found that ocean circulation plays a less significant role in climate change, while atmospheric circulation has a major impact on temperature differences between Europe and North America. The Rocky Mountains contribute significantly to the temperature contrast by creating a persistent wave in winds downstream.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalQuarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society·DateJan 22, 2003

Monkeys show sophisticated learning abilities

Researchers found that monkeys learned and applied strategies to distinguish order in image sequences with high accuracy. The study revealed two distinctive properties: distance effects and magnitude effects, which mimic human responses to memory tasks and number discrimination tasks.

SourceDuke University·JournalPsychological Science·DateJan 22, 2003