End of the Spectrum: NIR Speaks a Second Language Researchers use near-infrared spectroscopy to study bilingualism in the brain. Dec 1, 2006 By: Brian Johnson

December 2006. Spectroscopy editor Brian Johnson discusses how, by using near-infrared spectroscopy to examine the human brain's higher cognitive capacities, researchers at Dartmouth College have discovered areas in the brain that indicate bilingualism. Their goal is to unravel the mystery of how a bilingual person enhances the brain?s language centers as opposed to a monolingual person.

The European Space Agency brings infrared spectrometry to new heights.

End of the Spectrum: Spectroscosaurus Rex Dec 1, 2007 By: Brian Johnson

Spectroscopy editor Brian Johnson discusses recent mass spectrometric findings linking dinosaurs and modern birds.

Music aficionados have enjoyed the rich, soothing sounds of the violin for centuries, and arguably the most famous violins in history have come from the workshop of Antonio Stradivari. His line of Stradivarius violins have long been sought after by world-class musicians and collectors alike. Due to their limited availability (it is believed only 600 to 700 are still in existence), they command astronomical prices on the auction block. On May 16, 2006, a Stradivarius known as "The Christian Hammer" fetched a record price for a musical instrument at $3,544,000 at Christie's auction house in New York, New York.

End of the Spectrum: A 3D Look at Alzheimer's Disease New imaging technique based on MRI scans lets researchers study brain structure changes in early stages of the disease. Jun 1, 2006

By the time a person starts showing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, they have lost 15 percent of their brain matter. As the disease gradually strips away more and more brain cells, drugs become powerless against its onslaught. With brain imaging, doctors detect subtle changes in the brain's structures in the initial stages of Alzheimer's so that people at a high risk of developing the disease can be treated as early as possible.

End of the Spectrum: The Changing Trend in U.S. Research Funding Feb 1, 2006 By: Prachi Patel-Predd

Most of the 2.2 billion dollars increase in the 2006 federal research and development budget will go towards defense weapons development and human space exploration technologies, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

End of the Spectrum: Studying Water One Molecule at a Time Jan 1, 2006 By: Prachi Patel-Predd

Chemists use spectroscopy to understand the unusual chemical behavior of water at the molecular level.

End of the Spectrum: Revealing More Than Meets the Eye Using MXRF, researchers have developed a novel method that detects fingerprints through the salts that are excreted in sweat. Jul 1, 2005

Using MXRF, researchers have developed a novel method that detects fingerprints through the salts that are excreted in sweat.

Researchers have recently used computed tomography imaging scans to help separate fact from fiction in the ancient pharaoh's death.