20/12/2011

To turn up the heat in chilies, just add water

Biologists have learned in recent years that wild chilies develop their trademark pungency, or heat, as a defense against a fungus that could destroy their seeds. But that doesn't explain why some chilies are hot and others ...

Google remains default search engine at Firefox

Mozilla on Tuesday said that it has renewed a deal making Google the default search engine in the nonprofit organization's open-source Firefox Web browsing software.

The bizarre case of meteors with two identities

(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers have discovered why we see meteors flash through the night sky while they seemingly rain down on us gently at the same time. In a paper published in the December 20 issue of the Astrophysical ...

New tool offers unprecedented access for root studies

Plant roots are fascinating plant organs – they not only anchor the plant, but are also the world's most efficient mining companies. Roots live in darkness and direct the activities of the other organs, as well as interact ...

Pets, songs and babies top YouTube videos in 2011

Online singing sensation Rebecca Black topped a 2011 most-viewed YouTube videos list Tuesday that included spoofs starring pets, talking babies and pop music star Michael Bolton.

Skeletons point to Columbus voyage for syphilis origins

Skeletons don't lie. But sometimes they may mislead, as in the case of bones that reputedly showed evidence of syphilis in Europe and other parts of the Old World before Christopher Columbus made his historic voyage in 1492.

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