The Columbian

Science & Technology

A thick haze of smog looms over the skyline of Chicago in 2015. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that America’s nitrogen oxides levels, a key ingredient in smog, aren’t falling as fast as they used to and may be leveling off.

America’s smog-reduction rate slowing

May 10, 2018, 6:11am Life

For decades America’s air was getting cleaner as levels of a key smog ingredient steadily dropped. That changed about seven years ago when pollution reductions leveled off, a new study found. Read story

Microwear patterns, highlighted in yellow, on the teeth of three theropod dinosaurs.

Marks on dino teeth reveal fierce habits

May 10, 2018, 6:09am Life

Long ago, carnivorous dinosaurs grew little serrations on the back of their teeth called denticles, all the better to eat prey with. As the dinosaurs bit down, their food scraped into the denticles. Read story

Study re-creates brains of hominids

May 10, 2018, 6:05am Life

For more than 200,000 years, Neanderthals successfully occupied the cold, dark forests and shores of Europe. Read story

U.S. Geological Survey scientist Liz Westby describes the monitoring system for volcanic activity in Hawaii as well as the Cascades region. She is part of the team managing social media for the volcanic events in Hawaii.

Scientist keeping Hawaii informed from Vancouver

May 8, 2018, 10:12pm Clark County News

From an office in Vancouver, scientist Liz Westby has been helping Hawaiians keep up with news about their volcanic eruption. Read story

FILE- In this Feb. 16, 2018, file photo, Facebook and Facebook’s Messenger Kids app icons are displayed on an iPhone in New York. Facebook is adding a “sleep” mode to its Messenger Kids service so parents can limit how much time children spend on it.

Sleep mode? Tech giants’ kids’ ‘fixes’ amount to baby steps

May 7, 2018, 6:02am Business

Facebook is adding a “sleep” mode to its Messenger Kids service to let parents limit when their kids can use it. Read story

Jim Obester’s fluorescent photo of a tube-dwelling anemone took first place in the underwater category of National Geographic’s 2017 nature photography contest. The Vancouver resident took the photo at Sund Rock, near Hoodsport on Hood Canal.

Vancouver doctor wins National Geographic photography contest

May 6, 2018, 6:05am Clark County Life

Jim Obester sees things that most people don’t. Read story

Tech Test: Surge earbuds a sound, sturdy alternative to Apple AirPods

May 6, 2018, 6:00am Business

I’ve been ready for a good pair of wireless earbuds for a long time, and I was really impressed with Apple’s AirPods when they came out last year. Read story

In a report released on Tuesday, scientists have found that wood frogs don’t urinate in the winter, which keeps the small animals alive as they hibernate and freeze, inside and out. Clara do Amaral/Mount St.

Wood frogs’ pee helps them survive deep freeze

May 3, 2018, 6:02am Life

If you’ve ever been unable to find a bathroom in a moment of need, you know the gotta-go feeling. That’s nothing compared to the wood frog, which doesn’t urinate all winter. Read story

A young boy feeds a cow. A new study has found growing up with animals can lead to healthier adults.

Stress test study: City slickers vs. country boys

May 3, 2018, 6:01am Health

New research offers evidence for a claim made regularly by country music singers: Growing up with a little dirt under his nails may make a country boy a little shy. But compared to a born-and-bred city slicker, that country boy will grow up to be a stronger, healthier and more… Read story

Why do some hurricanes intensify so fast? Researchers find a key clue

May 3, 2018, 6:00am Life

The rapid intensification of hurricanes, a fearful development that forecasters still struggle to predict, may be tied to an inner battle between a storm’s thunderstorms and winds. Read story