Articles tagged with Science History
The 'Focus: Science and Law' section in Isis explores the intersection of science and law, examining how courts shape scientific theories and practices. Scholars discuss topics such as intellectual property legislation, witness testimony verification, and the commercialization of research.
A study published in Neurology found that middle-aged individuals with a history of migraine and other headaches are more likely to develop retinopathy, which can lead to severe vision problems or blindness. The association was strongest among those with migraine headaches and aura.
The APS 19th Annual Convention examines how scientific investigations can lead to stigmatization of certain populations. Panelists discuss historical examples of 'stigma from science' in studies of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and culture.
A scientific consensus on the link between smoking and lung cancer emerged in the mid-1950s, but tobacco industry efforts to sow doubt and delay regulation persisted. Proctor's research shows that consumer letters and phone logs reveal widespread ignorance about tobacco's health risks.
Chris Austin, an LSU molecular genetics lab expert, discovered a new lizard species in Borneo through extensive field research and DNA analysis. The species was confirmed by comparing its genetic variations with closely related species.
A team of archaeologists has uncovered a previously unknown system of writing on a stone block in Veracruz, Mexico, believed to be the earliest in the New World. The Cascajal block dates back to around 900 BCE and features a distinct script with poetic couplets, challenging existing knowledge of Mesoamerican civilization.
A new Cornell University study reveals the Santorini volcanic eruption occurred about 100 years earlier than previously thought, potentially rewriting Late Bronze Age history. The findings, based on radiocarbon analysis of tree rings and seeds, place the event in the late 17th century B.C., contradicting conventional estimates.
Blair Rudes, a UNC Charlotte linguist, uses historical linguistics to revive the Virginia Algonquian language spoken by Native Americans in Jamestown. He reconstructs over 1,000 words and syntax to give the film authenticity.
A new study has challenged previous reports that cannibalism played a significant role in shaping the human genome. The research, published in Genome Research, found a deficit of intermediate frequency variants in the PRNP gene, suggesting a complex history of episodic or fluctuating selection.
Climate models project significant changes in global water availability by 2050, with varying trends across regions. The study highlights the complex relationship between climate and water resources, noting that warmer temperatures can lead to both increased and decreased water supply in different parts of the world.
The Lancet urges Martin Rees, the new President of the Royal Society, to conduct a wide-ranging review of the organization's purpose, programs, and aspirations. The society is criticized for being self-serving and superficial, lacking intellectual substance and international scope.
The U.S. National Science Foundation commemorates Charles Byrd's groundbreaking 1929 flight, opening the South Pole to scientific research. Today, NSF maintains three year-round stations in Antarctica, including one at the geographic South Pole.
A chamber opera project, 'Hidden States,' explores parallels between alchemy and contemporary genetic science, featuring a sequence of five monologues on sequencing and cloning. The project has been funded by the Wellcome Trust's Engaging Science Programme to raise awareness of biomedical research.
The report 'INVENTION: Enhancing inventiveness for quality of life, competitiveness and sustainability' highlights the critical roles of invention and inventiveness in society. The National Science Foundation, along with the Lemelson-MIT Program, has examined the factors that drive invention.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) honored six reporters for their outstanding contributions to science journalism between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003. The winners used science storytelling to convey complex issues and make them accessible to the general audience.
Historical coral reef research reveals that most world reefs were degraded by overfishing and pollution even before grandparents' birth. Top carnivores and grazers are the first to disappear when humans enter the picture.
The Chemical Heritage Foundation has received a grant from the William Penn Foundation to support strategic planning. This funding aims to increase operating revenue and visitor numbers at the foundation's facility, as well as enhance online and on-site access to its library and archives.
William T. Golden establishes endowment fund to support innovative programs and creative thinking in the scientific enterprise. The gift aims to improve human welfare through scientific advances, fostering an environment of creativity and innovation.
The 2002 AAAS Science Journalism Award recipients were honored for their exemplary communications efforts on various topics including climate change, marine reserves, and reproductive technologies. The award recipients will each receive a $2,500 cash award and plaque during the 2003 AAAS Annual Meeting in Denver.
Lonnie G. Thompson, a leading researcher in ice core analysis, will receive the $150,000 Heineken award for his pioneering work on climate change. His research has provided critical insights into the effects of human activity on the Earth's climate.
Researchers discovered that individuals with positive attitudes were significantly less likely to develop heart disease, even after adjusting for traditional risk factors. The study followed 586 adults for an average of seven-and-a-half years and found that those in good spirits had lower levels of stress hormones.
Researchers analyzed lake sediment samples to find two naturally occurring warm periods in Alaska spanning 2,000 years. The initial period occurred from A.D. 0-300 and was accompanied by drier conditions; the second period corresponded to the Medieval Climatic Anomaly, a global warming event.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded $12 million in grants to informal science education centers across the US. The funding will support collaborations between nature centers, schools, and community institutions to strengthen science literacy among children and families.
Researchers use oxygen isotope fingerprinting to uncover evidence of lost Asian emerald sources in antiquity, tracing gems from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Colombia. The study reveals a significant role for the Spanish in introducing New World emeralds into Old World trade.
A recent study by Frankfurt historian Notker Hammerstein sheds light on the DFG's record during the Weimar Republic and Third Reich, revealing a period of political conformity under National Socialism. The organization's founding ideals were largely abandoned in favor of Nazi ideology.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill link severe premenstrual syndrome to childhood trauma, finding 50-60% of women with PMDD have histories of abuse. The study also reveals physiological abnormalities in the stress response system of women with PMDD.
The grant will enable JSTOR to archive past issues of Science and PNAS, with plans to include additional journals from the Royal Society. This move aims to broaden library collections and facilitate easier scholarly research, supported by a complementary grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Historians at Nijmegen University studied the supply and storage of goods during the war, revealing that Hannibal lost because he could not supply his armies properly. This logistical issue hindered his ability to exert constant pressure on Roman forces.
Experts at the University of Maryland Medical Center have re-examined historical records and found that symptoms described for Alexander's death, such as chills, sweats, and high fever, are consistent with typhoid fever. The disease can cause abdominal pain, which may have contributed to Alexander's reported agony.
A USGS scientist is presenting new evidence that historical tsunamis in the Caribbean were caused by submarine slope failures and landslides on the nearby sea floor. The research suggests that these events triggered long-period waves that approached shallow water near shorelines, resulting in devastating damage.