The diffraction response of a single crystal to electric field measured by X-ray diffraction by angles close to π. Such schemes allow one to determine with high (~ 10–5–10–6) accuracy the relative changes in the lattice constant.

A new study provides a possible explanation for the mysterious flares. The suggestion is that there is a cloud around Sgr A* containing hundreds of trillions of asteroids and comets, which have been stripped from their parent stars.

The post X-ray flares observed by Chandra are asteroids being torn to pieces in a black hole appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

But how can the solar atmosphere get hotter, rather than colder, the farther you go from the Sun's surface? A suborbital rocket launched in July provides the answer.

The post HI-C adds big piece to the solar corona puzzle appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

New research by a team of archaeologists has revealed a curious connection between our traditional Thanksgiving dinner and the taste buds of prehistoric mammoths and […]

The post Study reveals ancient link between mammoth dung and pumpkin pie appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

After decades of attempts, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) scientists and researchers at Cornell University have become the first to successfully use in vitro fertilization […]

The post Smithsonian-Cornell Partnership produces First Domestic Puppies by In Vitro Fertilization appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Perhaps puppies cuddling in the snow makes winter’s bite not so unpleasant? In one of his most charming designs, Japanese artist Isoda Koryūsai (1735–1790) depicted […]

The post Snow puppies appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Flitting swiftly through the darkness above the tropical forest canopy in Central and South America, a group of cute little bats with dog-like faces have […]

The post More sky puppies! Scientists discover two new species of dog-faced bat appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The main mass of a rare meteorite that exploded over California’s Sierra foothills in April 2012 will be preserved for current and future scientific discoveries, […]

The post Pieces of rare meteorite land at five different academic institutions appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The post The amazing story of adaptation and survival in our species, Homo sapiens. appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The post With the recent hatching of two Cuban crocodiles, the National Zoo just got a little snappier! appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

On crime scene investigation shows, forensic scientists use remnants of genetic material to solve mysteries in a matter of hours. Researchers at the Smithsonian Environmental […]

The post Environmental “Forensics” Pieces Together Mysterious Plant Invasion appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Fort Pierce, Fla. – Fall in southern Florida is festival season: when the weather stops being oppressively hot and 70 degrees is positively autumnal.  On […]

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Potentially useful biomarker tests for molecularly targeted therapies are not being adopted appropriately into clinical practice because of a lack of common evidentiary standards necessary for regulatory, reimbursement, and treatment decisions, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

To make the world safer against future infectious disease threats, national health systems should be strengthened, the World Health Organization’s emergency and outbreak response activities should be consolidated and bolstered, and research and development should be enhanced, says a new Policy Forum article that appears in the May 19 edition of PLOS Medicine.

The Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has announced the nine recipients of its 2019 Science Policy Fellowships.

Exide begins to remove lead-polluted soil on Monday morning at a house on the 1200 block of La Puerta Street in Boyle Heights.; Credit: Maya Sugarman/KPCC

All five members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have signed a letter imploring California Gov. Jerry Brown to intervene in the state’s handling of contamination around the Exide Technologies plant in Vernon.

The letter criticizing the state’s “piecemeal approach to an urgent environmental hazard” comes as workers paid for by Exide are removing lead-contaminated topsoil from two homes near the intersection of Olympic and Indiana avenues in L.A. 

Signed Tuesday, the letter asks for “guaranteed state funding to immediately begin testing” at 37 more homes also sampled, but to less specific degrees, during November 2013. In the words of the board, “further testing and remediation of the other 37 homes has not been confirmed and may not begin until at least October 2014 because Exide has not yet agreed to comply with DTSC directives issued last March.”

The supervisors also say the state has “reneged” on its commitments to test for lead inside the homes as well as outside.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control says that the two homes workers are at this week will be cleaned inside and out — even without indoor testing.  The DTSC’s Rizgar Ghazi said Monday that crews will use HEPA filters, vacuums and shampooing equipment on “basically any flat surface” inside the two residences.

Read the L.A. Board of Supervisors’ letter to Gov. Brown here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/236655733/LA-County-Supervisors-Letter-to-Gov-Brown-8-12-14

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Areas of mariculture — where marine organisms are cultivated for food — have been identified as important source areas for the dispersal of invasive alien species (IAS) via artificial floating litter. In order to identify IAS at high risk of dispersal via this method, researchers have analysed fouled anthropogenic litter sampled on beaches in two important European mariculture areas. Overall, the team detected eight aquaculture-related IAS attached to anthropogenic litter. All of these species are well adapted to rafting on artificial surfaces and have high potential to disperse in this way, suggesting that they are suitable candidates for closer monitoring and policy action in the future.

California wine country may be the happiest place in the United States, at least if its Twitter feed is any indication.

The (in)famous sea lions of San Francisco's Pier 39 are gone and no one is really sure where they went.

After weeks of absence, sea lions are starting to climb back onto the docks at San Francisco's Pier 39 and SF Weekly thinks they know why they left in the first

A dozen homeless dogs will be the first Chernobyl puppies to seek American homes.

British Parliament is striving to reduce its carbon footprint through various efficiency measures, including potentially outfitting Big Ben with PV panels.

Can something as subjective as happiness be measured by a formula?

A nearly 70-foot-long dock floated onto an Oregon beach after being torn loose from a fishing port in Japan after the tsunami.

Pluto looks especially welcoming in a new photo by NASA's approaching New Horizons probe.

Decorate your table with this inexpensive, natural arrangement that also happens to be compostable.

Get ahead of the holidays by making and freezing unbaked and baked pies, crusts and filling before the rush.

A Chicago restaurant is serving crystal-clear pumpkin pie. Do you think it's fun or freaky?

Wind entrepreneur Dale Vince used to live on a bus. Now he's one of Britain's richest men, and he has big plans to transform his country.

Using satellite data and machine learning, researchers have mapped the movements of over 70,000 industrial fishing vessels.

With huge eyes in tiny bodies, baby jumping spiders have high-quality vision.

There were so many adorable puppies entered in the Green Dog of the Year Contest, that we couldn't resist! Here's a gallery of 10 green puppies.

These small resolutions can make for a great start to the new year.

Ethical shoppers can opt for fair trade certified fashions this season -- although MNN's lifestyle blogger isn't too impressed by the current selection.

New research finds dads are happier than moms, and it might have to do with how much time they spend playing.

Pierre Calleja sees big things in microalgae – microscopic, single-cell plants with the potential to clean the air.

With the U.S. Green Building Council's Greenbuild International Conference and Expo about to kick off in San Francisco, the organization announces the recipient

A drone has found a vast catshark nursery on the seafloor west of Ireland, say scientists with the SeaRover survey.

Beauty abounds in the weather-warped details of Dwell Development's latest net-zero residence.

Avoiding chemical starter logs and gels but not in the mood to go out and gather pine needles? As fireplace season approaches, consider these fume-free fire sta

Money from the 2008 Farm Bill has been set aside specifically for organic farmers.

The launch of Earth Day in 1970 raised suspicions in Washington, D.C.

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, NASA has launched a clever online campaign that enables participants to "adopt" a small piece of the planet.

Singing helps the spirit soar, but can it boost the body as well?

A new study looks at happiness among millenials who buy 'green' or buy less.

It's the paradox of aging when we should be feeling worse as we get older, but we actually have a better sense of well-being.

Always eating alone can make you sad, finds a British study. We didn't need a study to tell us that eating together is much more fun.

Many people still don't know what biodynamic means, but wines grown biodynamically are popular with the experts.

Making an apple pie doesn't have to be difficult. Follow this recipe to find out just how simple (and tasty) it can be.

A new book by Brett Graff helps parents drown out the cultural noise and reduce parenting anxiety when it comes to spending money on our kids.