Featured Article

Ancient Penguin DNA Raises Doubts About Accuracy of Genetic Dating Techniques

By sade on November 15th, 2009

Penguins that died 44,000 years ago in Antarctica have provided extraordinary frozen DNA samples that challenge the accuracy of traditional genetic aging measurements, and suggest those approaches have been routinely underestimating the age...

more

• King Solomon`s Copper Mines?

  Did the Bible`s King David and his son Solomon control the copper industry in present-day southern Jordan? Though that remains an open question, the possibility is raised once again by research reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Led by Thomas Levy of UC San Diego and Mohammad Najjar of Jordan`s Friends of Archaeology, an international team of archaeologists has excava...

  more
• New Process Promises Bigger, Better Diamond Crystals

  Researchers at the Carnegie Institution have developed a new technique for improving the properties of diamonds—not only adding sparkle to gemstones, but also simplifying the process of making high-quality diamond for scalpel blades, electronic components, even quantum computers. A diamond may be forever, but the very qualities that make it a superior material for many purposes—its har...

  more