My picks from ScienceDaily

Urban Black Bears 'Live Fast, Die Young':

Black bears that live around urban areas weigh more, get pregnant at a younger age, and are more likely to die violent deaths, according to a study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Tiny Organisms Feast On Oil Thousands Of Feet Below Bottom Of Sea:

Thousands of feet below the bottom of the sea, off the shores of Santa Barbara, single-celled organisms are busy feasting on oil.

Mass Extinctions And The Evolution Of Dinosaurs:

Dinosaurs survived two mass extinctions and 50 million years before taking over the world and dominating ecosystems, according to new research published this week.

Immigrant Children From Poor Countries Academically Outperform Those From Developed Countries:

Children from small immigrant communities and children of politically motivated immigrants are at educational disadvantage, new research suggests.

Novel Mechanism For Regulation Of Gene Expression Identified:

The Stowers Institute's Conaway Lab has demonstrated that an enzyme called Uch37 is kept in check when it is part of a human chromatin remodeling complex, INO80. The results were published in the September 26 issue of Molecular Cell.

Like An Arrow: Jumping Insects Use Archery Techniques:

Froghoppers, also known as spittlebugs, are the champion insect jumpers, capable of reaching heights of 700 mm - more than 100 times their own body length. New research reveals that they achieve their prowess by flexing bow-like structures between their hind legs and wings and releasing the energy in one giant leap in a catapult-like action.

Experiment Demonstrates 110 Years Of Sustainable Agriculture:

A plot of land on the campus of Auburn University shows that 110 years of sustainable farming practices can produce similar cotton crops to those using other methods.

Degradation Of Wood In Royal Warship Vasa Is Caused By Iron:

During its time in the sea bottom of Stockholm harbour, huge amounts of iron and sulfurous compounds accumulated in the wood of the royal warship Vasa. Since 2000 it has been noticed that changes are taking place in the wood, changes that threaten the stability of the ship.

Hey, saw Vasa when I was in Stockholm in 1990 - a cool museum.

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