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David Perlman

Artist’s impression of the Tau Ceti system. (Credit: J. Pinfield for the RoPACS network at the University of Hertfordshire, 2012)

Astronomers may have found another Earth

Last updated Wednesday, December 19, 2012 - 3:13pm

International astronomers say they have detected five possible planets circling a distant star much like Earth’s sun -- and that one of those planets is apparently in the famed “habitable zone” where water could exist on its surface.

Features, Astronomy, Space Read more Comments

Stanford engineers develop device to speed up computers

David Perlman San Francisco Chronicle

Last updated Thursday, December 1, 2011 - 2:42pm

Stanford University engineers report they have developed a device for computers that can send information over light beams faster than anything yet achieved, while consuming far less energy.

Business, Computers, Research, Stanford University Read more Comments

'Monster' earthquake may hit off California coast within 50 years.

David Perlman San Francisco Chronicle

Last updated Monday, October 10, 2011 - 2:44pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- The ocean floor off the coast of Northern California and southern Oregon reveals a record of massive earthquakes that have hit the region over the past 10,000 years -- and there's a 1-in-3 chance that another could strike again within the next 50 years, scientists say.

Features, Earthquake, Ocean, Research Read more Comments

Fish known as wrasses are found to use tools

David Perlman San Francisco Chronicle

Last updated Friday, September 30, 2011 - 2:36pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- Chimps do it, birds do it, and now it turns out that fish do it, too -- they all use tools of one kind or another to catch whatever they need to eat.

Features, Fish, Research, University of California, College Read more Comments

DNA from long-lost lock of hair aids new Africa migration theory

David Perlman San Francisco Chronicle

Last updated Saturday, September 24, 2011 - 7:38am

SAN FRANCISCO -- Long, long ago, a bold race of early modern humans left Africa and migrated across vast stretches of southern Asia to Australia -- a mass migration of humankind that was followed thousands of years later by a second wave of African migrants who would settle all of Europe and the northern reaches of the Eurasian continent.

Features, DNA, Migration, Research Read more Comments

Big quake in California long overdue, study says

David Perlman San Francisco Chronicle

Last updated Friday, July 8, 2011 - 11:47am

The southern end of the San Andreas Fault may be overdue for a large earthquake that could heavily damage the Los Angeles area, scientists have concluded after studying a record of ancient quakes and flooding around the seismically active region of the Salton Sea.

The researchers report finding evidence of many small past quakes that have ruptured along small "stepover" faults, which run at right angles to the fault's southern end. The underground stresses those small quakes have built up could trigger a much bigger one on the dominant San Andreas, they say.

Features, Earthquake, Research, San Andreas Fault, Study Read more Comments