04/06/2014

All-natural mixture yields promising fire retardant

(Phys.org) —What sounds like fixings for a wizard's potion—a dash of clay, a dab of fiber from crab shells, and a dollop of DNA—actually are the ingredients of promising green fire retardants invented by researchers ...

Dutch scientists crack fingerprint dating riddle

Criminals' days may be numbered after Dutch forensic experts discovered how to accurately date fingerprints, a breakthrough that could one day let police date crime scene prints from years ago.

How to tell when a sewage pipe needs repair—before it bursts

The nation's sewer system is a topic most people would prefer to avoid, but its aging infrastructure is wearing out, and broken pipes leaking raw sewage into streets and living rooms are forcing the issue. To better predict ...

Environmental 'one-two punch' imperils Amazonian forests

One of the world's longest-running ecological studies has revealed that Amazonian forests are being altered by multiple environmental threats – creating even greater perils for the world's largest rainforest.

Rosetta comet comes alive

A spacecraft from Earth is about to do something no spacecraft has ever done before: orbit a comet and land on its surface.

Lithium sulfur: A battery revolution on the cheap?

(Phys.org) —Whip together an industrial waste product and a bit of plastic and you might have the recipe for the next revolution in battery technology. Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology ...

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