At Particle Lab, a Tantalizing Glimpse Has Physicists Holding Their Breaths

By DENNIS OVERBYE

Evidence of a new elementary particle could shake what has passed for conventional wisdom in physics for the last few decades.

Green Blog

White House Promises Veto of Anti-E.P.A. Bill

By JOHN M. BRODER

The White House says the bill would roll back the Clean Air Act, worsen the threat of global warming, undercut efforts to make cars and trucks more fuel-efficient and contradict public health experts and scientists.

U.S. Sees Array of New Threats at Japan’s Nuclear Plant

By JAMES GLANZ and WILLIAM J. BROAD

The nuclear plant in Japan faces an array of fresh threats that could persist indefinitely or increase as a result of stabilization efforts, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Science Times: April 5, 2011

Black-Market Trinkets From Space

By WILLIAM J. BROAD

Mario Di Martino

LOOTED The Gebel Kamil crater in Egypt has been scoured for fragments prized by collectors and researchers.

As more meteorites have been discovered, an illegal sales market has emerged, to the dismay of those who want to study them.

Multitude of Species Face Climate Threat

By CARL ZIMMER

Paul Sunnucks

WARMING TREND Butterflies are emerging from their pupae faster.

The conclusion that global warming can speed up extinctions is equally as strong as the difficulty in linking the fate of any single species to climate.

Basics

NATURE VISION Dr. Thomas Eisner, who died last month, is best known for his in-depth studies of insects and other arthropods, like the whip scorpion.

Paths of Discovery, Lighted by a Bug Man’s Insights

By NATALIE ANGIER

A tribute to Thomas Eisner, the pioneer of chemical ecology and master photographer of insects, who died March 25.

OLD RECORD The tablet, only 2 inches by 3 inches, includes a list of names alongside numbers.

Greek Tablet May Shed Light on Early Bureaucratic Practices

By JOHN NOBLE WILFORD

The discovery appears to be a “page” from a bookkeeper’s note pad, never meant to be preserved as a permanent record.

FATHER FIGURE Fifty-six percent of the genes on Isle Royale can be traced to the Old Gray Guy, center, who migrated to Lake Superior in 1997.

Wolf Crosses the Lake Superior Ice to Become Leader of the Pack

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR

Fifty-six percent of the genes in Isle Royale wolves can be traced to a single wolf that arrived from Ontario in 1997.

Scientist at Work Blog

Collecting Seawater From the Depths

By ALYSON SANTORO and CAROLYN BUCHWALD

Scientists sample for microbial DNA and stable isotope ratios in nitrogen-containing compounds to learn about the relative contributions of different nitrogen cycling processes.

More Science News

Florida: NASA Delays Final Launching of the Space Shuttle Endeavour

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NASA is delaying the last mission of the space shuttle Endeavour because the original April 19 launching date conflicts with Russia’s plans to send a cargo ship to the International Space Station.

Health News

Radiation Is Everywhere, but How to Rate Harm?

By DENISE GRADY

Certain levels of radiation exposure are known to increase the risk of cancer, but scientists disagree about very low doses of the sort that may have occurred so far in Japan.

Measuring Radioactive Elements and Their Impact on Human Cells

Well Column

ONE-LINERS AND MORE Zach Anner won his own show on the OWN network.

A Comedic TV Talent Turns the Tables on Oprah

By TARA PARKER-POPE

A filmmaker who just won his own television show on Oprah Winfrey's new network has plenty of talent, and cerebral palsy.

News Analysis

Drugs’ Cost and Safety Fuel a Fight

By GARDINER HARRIS

A debate about Makena, a costly drug to prevent premature birth, revolves around the struggle between manufacturers and the government over who is best equipped to safeguard the nation’s drug supply.