A possible treatment for autism, tail-chasing dogs as a model of human obsessive-compulsive disorder, and what researchers could do with an extra-stretchy version of a material known as a hydrogel are a few of the topics explored in Scientific American's November Advances. Research papers and links to online materials are listed below.
The Autism Pill
Two recentstudies on arbaclofen are behind a paywall in Science Translational Medicine. Clinicaltrials.gov lists ongoing studies involving the drug, also designated as STX209.
You Are Here
A longer version of this story on astronomical surveys appeared here.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Scaled Down Scientific American reported the news about the new nano device online. Researchers described the tiny scale in Nature Nanotechnology. (Scientific American is part of Nature Publishing Group.)
Roaches to the Rescue
The remote-controlled roaches were featured in an online news story and accompanying video. Alper Bozkurt's Web site details his work on cyborg insects.
Dead in the Water
The full report on extinct species of North American fish is available behind a paywall at BioScience.
A Shot in the Arm
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an online guide to vaccines and recommended immunizations.
Some Don't Like It Hot
Researchers examined the two distinctly spicy mustard populations in Science. (The study is behind a paywall.) A longer version of the news story was reported online.
From Tail Chasing to Hand Washing
Researchers published their findings on canine compulsions inPLoS ONE here.
Fickle Fairies
When not observing sexually promiscuous birds, Mike Webster oversees the largest animal-sound library in the world. To learn more, watch this Scientific Americanaudio-visual slide show.
Break More to Break Less
Zhigang Suo and colleagues describe their new material in Nature. To see the hydrogel stretch to accommodate a falling metal ball (and wobble with the aftershock) watch a video posted by Nature News.
Helpless by Design Scientific American discussed helpless human babies in the staff's Observations blog. Holly Dunsworth and her colleagues published their findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (behind a paywall).
Breaking the Ice
The whole story on Russia's nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet appeared in Scientific American'sGuest blog. More information on the project can be found here.
The Last Frontier
To learn more about Voyagers 1 and 2—as well as see exactly how far the spacecraft are from Earth 35 years after launch—visit NASA's Web site on the mission. The story was originally posted in the Observations blog and the researchers reported their findings in Nature (behind a paywall).