Young scientists across the country will display their projects examining the theme 'Our Changing Earth' at science centers nationwide. The students, aged 10-12, have worked months on hands-on projects to learn about topics such as water quality, landslides, satellite images, and El Niño weather patterns.
Researchers used eggshells from an enormous flightless bird to determine the timing and cause of Australia's megafaunal extinction event. The study suggests human activities, such as burning, disrupted ecological balance, leading to the demise of over 85% of large animals.
The accelerating universe is the top research advance of 1998, with scientists discovering that galaxies are flying apart at ever faster speeds. Researchers also made significant progress in understanding circadian rhythms, which could provide insight into overcoming jet lag and winter depression.
A new study using precise elevation measurements from the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft provides a detailed picture of Mars' north polar region. The findings suggest that any water in the region should flow towards the pole, rather than the equator, due to its depression-like structure.
The AAAS Science Journalism Awards recognize the work of individuals who excel in reporting on science and its impact on society. In 1998, four teams of journalists won awards in large newspaper, small newspaper, magazine, television, and radio categories for their outstanding reporting.
A new species of spinosaurid dinosaur, Suchomimus tenerensis, is discovered in the Ténéré Desert with a long, narrow, crocodile-like skull. The fossil remains suggest that this predator had curved claws like giant meathooks and was about 11 meters long.
The AAAS Annual Meeting brings together over 800 scientists and engineers to discuss groundbreaking research in various fields, including medicine, astronomy, and physics. Notable sessions cover topics like the influence of diet on breast cancer and the latest discoveries in astronomy.
Researchers have found evidence of ancient worm-like animals in rocks dating back 1.1 billion years, challenging the traditional timeline for multicellular life. The discovery suggests that animal body plans changed little before the Cambrian period, and that soft-bodied animals may have existed even earlier.
The sensory exploitation theory suggests that animals choose mates using sensory systems shaped for daily survival needs, rather than solely for sexual attraction. This model proposes that animals have built-in preferences for traits unrelated to genetic fitness, which can be seen in examples such as water mites mimicking copepod vibra...
Researchers have uncovered ancient fragments of sea shells and cutting tools at two sites in Peru, dating the earliest evidence of maritime-based societies in the Americas between 11,000 and 13,000 years ago. The discoveries challenge traditional views on Paleoindian societies and suggest a more diverse set of strategies for survival.
A two-day conference at the AAAS Auditorium will bring together scientists, religious leaders, and corporate representatives to explore global climate change. The event aims to outline scientific evidence and address ethical, religious, and economic challenges related to the issue.
The report reveals a significant decline in first-year graduate enrollments of African Americans and Hispanics in science and engineering between 1996 and 1997. The AAAS attributes this decrease to an 'unwelcoming environment' for underrepresented minority students, citing policy changes and unclear institutional guidelines.
A new study reveals that cattle fed grain may transmit dangerous strains of E. coli to humans, leading to food-borne illness. Feeding hay to cows for a short period before slaughter can reduce the risk of infection.
Researchers analyzed 14,000-year-old peat layers to track natural and human-induced lead emissions. The study found that human activity began altering atmospheric lead levels around 6,000 years ago and has continued to the present day.
Scientists discover that adding defects to materials can enhance their performance in semiconductor devices, leading to breakthroughs in information technology, high-speed communications, and the development of new LED technologies. Researchers are also exploring ways to exploit defects in optical fibers to increase bandwidth capacities.
A strong consensus has emerged among US seismologists that the seismic network would have detected a blast equivalent to 800 tons of TNT, leading some experts to conclude that India's second round of tests were small and designed to test nuclear bomb components. Pakistan conducted its own nuclear tests shortly after.
A major HIV prevention trial involving low-income women and men living in urban areas found that behavioral interventions can reduce HIV-related sexual risk. The study, which recruited 3,700 participants, showed significant improvements in condom use and reductions in unprotected sexual acts after a one-year intervention.
A team of astrophysicists and computer scientists has captured the entire observable universe in a computer simulation, depicting how gravity gathered ripples from the big bang into cosmic structures. This unprecedented model aims to better interpret data from large surveys and understand rarest structures in the cosmos.
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has granted $120,000 to EurekAlert! over a two-year period. This grant will enable the development of new content areas, including peer-reviewed journals and a 'Science by Country' section.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has announced the winners of its national science writing awards, recognizing excellence in large and small newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. The winners were selected by independent screening and judging committees consisting of journalists and scientists.
In 1997, scientists made significant discoveries in cloning, with the cloning of Dolly sparking debate on ethics and potential benefits. The year also saw major breakthroughs in Mars exploration, gamma ray bursts, and advances in genetic understanding, including the identification of clock genes and microbial genomes.
JoAnn Burkholder, a North Carolina State University researcher, was awarded the 1998 Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award for her unyielding pursuit of knowledge about Pfiesteria piscicida, a microbe devastating U.S. rivers and fish. Her research led to the identification of the toxin's chemical structure and faster-acting poiso...
The AAAS awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to science, including Peter H. Raven for his service to ecology and sustainability, and Bert Richard Johannes Bolin for his leadership in international research programs on climate change. The winners of the 1997-1998 AAAS Science Journalism Awards will be an...
The winners, Christine Jacobs, James E. Brownell, Georg Halder, and Mitsuharu Hattori, have made groundbreaking discoveries in bacterial resistance, genetic function regulation, eye development, and brain development research. They will receive $5,000 each plus a grand prize of $20,000.
The AAAS Conference on Anonymous and Pseudonymous Communications on the Internet brought together experts to analyze online and offline anonymity in journalism, whistleblowing, human rights, and more. The participants developed recommendations for guidelines in anonymous communication use.
Science's Next Wave is creating a fellowship database with funding from HHMI. The site will feature profiles of selected foundations and other funding organizations, providing crucial information for young scientists. The new database will debut in early 1998.
The Canon National Parks Science Scholars program aims to nurture a new generation of environmental scientists by supporting innovative research on topics selected by the NPS. Four doctoral students will receive $25,000 per year for up to three years to conduct research on critical challenges facing the national park system.
The AAAS Annual Meeting will take place in Philadelphia from February 12-17, featuring over 900 speakers on topics such as pain management, climate change, and obesity. The meeting also includes a special seminar on the human genome project and presentations by top experts in their fields.
A new hominid species, Homo antecessor, has been identified in Spanish fossils, dating back 800,000 years. The species' modern-looking mid-face and primitive cranium traits suggest a complex evolutionary history, potentially challenging current theories on human migration and settlement of Europe.
The President's R&D budget for FY 1998 will cut federal R&D spending by an additional 14 percent (in inflation-adjusted dollars) by 2002. Funding for basic research would barely stay ahead of inflation at $15.3 billion, representing a 3.0 percent increase over FY 1997.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science reports that New England universities rely heavily on federal R&D funding, which could be cut by up to 33% by 2002. The region's economy and workforce will suffer if these programs are reduced.
The Pacific Northwest's high-tech industry may be hindered by proposed federal funding cuts for research and development. The region's universities, which receive significant funding from the federal government, are particularly vulnerable to these reductions, as they rely heavily on this support to fuel their research and innovation.
New HIV treatments and basic research advances offered new weapons against the virus, potentially making it a chronic disease. Other breakthroughs included discoveries about the origin of life, online publishing, and genetic sequencing of yeast.
A new theory on plasma turbulence warns that ITER's energy confinement could be shortened, making it difficult to ignite a fusion burn. The theory's calculations suggest ITER might only produce a few times the energy used to heat the plasma, rendering it unreliable for generating abundant power.
Congress approved a 4.1% increase in R&D funding for FY 1997, but the boost was insufficient to overcome three years of level funding and inflation. Only NIH and NSF kept their budgets ahead of inflation during the period.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science reports that Alaska's R&D funding may be reduced by 19-23% due to federal budget cuts, impacting research at universities and colleges. The University of Alaska Fairbanks receives 90% of the state's federal funding for academic R&D.
Federal support for R&D in the Midwest is projected to decline significantly under proposed budget cuts. The region's economy heavily relies on federal funding for top-ranked universities.
A three-year international research project will assess population impact as a factor in declining biodiversity. Researchers will focus on various human population factors and measure their effects on biodiversity levels. The findings, while local in focus, will be broadly applicable to many other sites around the world.
Researchers have discovered complex organic molecules and mineralogical evidence of past life in the Martian meteorite ALH84001. The study suggests that these findings could be indicative of primitive life on early Mars.
Researchers weigh evidence for and against prion theory behind rare fatal diseases. A 24 researcher interview draws on interviews with all sides of the issue.
Several California universities, including Stanford and UC campuses, receive over 80% of their R&D funding from the federal government. The latest budget proposals call for a 32% reduction in defense R&D and 25% in nondefense R&D, which could severely impact California's economic future.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) estimates that nondefense R&D funding in the US will decrease by up to 25 percent by 2002. The latest budget proposal from the White House would cut discretionary spending as necessary if it does not balance the budget, according to AAAS analysis.
A new report by AAAS warns that federal R&D program reductions may harm Alaskan research institutions. The nation's research efforts could become a casualty of the budget wars, with the University of Alaska Fairbanks particularly vulnerable.
A new AAAS report cautions that Georgia's economy is threatened by proposed cuts in R&D programs, which could impact industries and research universities. The report highlights the need for informed discussions among government, industry, and academia to address future trends in federal R&D spending.
Researchers have discovered a new Paleoindian culture in Brazil, challenging traditional views of early human migration and settlement. The site, Caverna da Pedra Pintada, dates back to between 11,200 and 10,000 years ago and reveals a more diverse range of habitats for human adaptation.