Dinosaur bones are going missing all over the country--presumably stolen from the field, labs and even museums. And filched fossils can bring in tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars on the black market. But even when caught with the bones, would-be thieves can rarely be accused with certainty. It’s a big fossil-filled world out there, and one Hesperonychus femur can look pretty similar to the next. [More]

A marked and broad expansion in antidepressant treatment occurred among Americans older than 6 years between 1996 and 2005, although treatment rates remain low among racial and ethnic minorities, according to a new report.

It may not be the Yeti, but in a remote region of the Russian mountains a previously unknown and entirely unique form of plant root has been discovered.

Fluorescent nanoparticles are able to illuminate brain tumors in mice. The particles can safely cross the blood-brain barrier, an almost impenetrable barrier that protects the brain from infection.

What do the Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone," global climate change and acid rain have in common? They're all a result of human impacts to Earth's biology, chemistry and geology, and the natural cycles that involve all three.

Vesselplasty, a new minimally invasive procedure, increases mobility, and reduces pain and the need for pain killers in patients with vertebral compression fractures (VCFs), according to a new study. Vesselplasty is a new alternative to vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty -- two conventional VCF treatment methods.

Scientists have overturned previous research that identified critical genes for making muscle stem cells. It turns out that the genes that make muscle stem cells in the embryo are surprisingly not needed in adult muscle stem cells to regenerate muscles after injury. The finding challenges the current course of research into muscular dystrophy, muscle injury and regenerative medicine; it also favors using age-matched stem cells for therapy.

White House acting cyber security czar Melissa Hathaway on Monday became the latest to walk away from a position that (ostensibly, at least) promises to play the primary role in protecting the nation's digital infrastructure. Hathaway told The Wall Street Journal she was leaving the White House after about six months there for "personal reasons," but the paper also made clear that Hathaway (like many of her federal-level cyber security predecessors) was embroiled in a power struggle that she was unlikely to win. [More]

Counting cards at the casino may pay out more than counting candies in a jar, although a close goodie guesstimate could still win you a sweet prize at the county fair. But just how do you estimate a figure for all the candies you can't see in the inner part of the jar, especially if they vary in size? [More]

Dear EarthTalk: What are some things that children and families can do to be greener (and to provide life lessons for the kids in the process)?   -- Cynthia Mosher, via email

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