A group of French hospitals has reduced the burden of MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus ) among patients by more than a third after a 15-year-long multi-prong control program, according to a new report published online March 22 in the Archives of Internal Medicine . [More]

Several new species of rare Hawaiian moth caterpillars have been discovered to be able to thrive both totally submerged and totally dry. They are the first insects to be described as fully amphibious, reported a team of researchers in a study published online March 22 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . [More]

Semiconductor crystals known as quantum dots have long held the promise of improving solar cells, lasers and lighting fixtures, but the reality is that integrating these fluorescent nanoparticles into existing technologies has proved difficult. One Silicon Valley start-up now aims to change this by the end of next year using quantum dots to vastly improve the picture-taking quality of cell phone cameras. [More]

Money only makes people happier if it improves their social rank, according to new research. The researchers found that simply being highly paid wasn't enough -- to be happy, people must perceive themselves as being more highly paid than their friends and work colleagues.

Evolution can proceed much more rapidly than has long been thought. This is shown in new research on the impact of genetics and the environment on the color patterns of pygmy grasshoppers.

Scientists in Australia have identified a new link between strong period pain experienced in adolescence and early adulthood and the risk of endometriosis.

Two decades of atomic bomb testing in the atmosphere are yielding a new test to determine whether that Bordeaux or burgundy really is from a vintage year and a commands premium price or actually is a counterfeit vin ordinaire or cheap plonk worth much less.

Ancient bite marks and fossilized feces discovered in Georgia are providing new details about a giant crocodile that roamed the Southeast United States about 79 million years ago.

Scientists have identified a new growth factor that stimulates the expansion and regeneration of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells in culture and in laboratory animals. The discovery, may help researchers overcome one of the most frustrating barriers to cellular therapy: the fact that stem cells are so few in number and so stubbornly resistant to expansion.

Research by psychologists has revealed that online ostracism is a threat to children’s self-esteem. The study looked at how children, adolescents and adults react to being ostracised by other players during an online computer game.