Новости науки и техники в "Scientific American" 9 июля 2003 г.

FROZEN STARS

Demolishing stars, powering blasts of high-energy radiation, rending the fabric of spacetime: it is not hard to see the allure of black holes. They light up the same parts of the brain as monster trucks and battlebots do. They explain violent celestial phenomena that no other body can. They are so extreme, in fact, that no one really knows what they are.

MOONLIGHT KEEPS DUNG BEETLES ON COURSE

At first glance, the African dung beetle does not cut an impressive figure. It is, after all, a creature that devotes much of its energy to rolling excrement into little balls for later consumption. But researchers have discovered that dung beetles may possess a talent previously unknown in the animal kingdom: the ability to navigate by moonlight.

BOOKSTORE: ANCIENT CITIES OF THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION by Jonathan Mark Kenoyer

This lavishly illustrated book presents a coherent and fascinating account of the Indus Valley civilization that will appeal to specialists and non-specialists alike. Kenoyer draws on the latest archaeological information from Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Dholavira, and other major sites as well as on his considerable knowledge of South Asian societies and ancient technologies. He addresses such enduring topics as the nature and role of the Indus writing system, the Indus religion as evidenced through sculpture and architecture, the political organization of Indus city-states, long-distance trade and the importance of merchants in Indus society, and the daily life of the diverse inhabitants of the cities, towns, and villages of the region.

TUNGSTEN CRYSTALS COULD PROVIDE MORE POWER FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES

Light would seem to be a hard thing to hold on to but that's just what so-called photonic crystals can do. Made of microscopic metal bars arranged into interlocking lattices, photonic crystals trap light of a particular frequency inside. By introducing impurities at specific sites, scientists can bend the light along a prescribed pathway. Researchers have found a new application for photonic crystals made of tungsten. Instead of bending light inside a crystal, they have used a tungsten lattice to filter input energy so that it exits the crystal only in desired frequency bands. The heated lattices are said to emit significantly more energy than solid filaments can, paving the way for a possibly superior energy source.

GENE VARIANT MAY HAMPER EFFORTS TO KICK THE HABIT

Giving up cigarettes is notoriously hard to do. Now researchers report that some people carry a gene variant that leaves them especially hard-pressed to kick the habit.

BEANS NO LONGER A GAS

For many diners who enjoy beans, the side effects can be somewhat unpleasant - legumes are notorious for causing flatulence. But the results of a new study indicate that beans need not lead to gas. It seems that natural fermentation can remove nearly all of the compounds known to cause flatulence.

ASK THE EXPERTS: WHY ARE LIGHTNING BOLTS JAGGED INSTEAD OF STRAIGHT?

William C. Valine, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Arizona, enlightens.