damaging

While other researchers had previously identified damaging bacteria and fungi living on the outside of the ancient city's buildings, little was known about bacterial communities in the limestone's labyrinth of pores.

At the same time, strong fluctuations occurred in the power-distribution grid in southern Sweden, damaging capacitors and power cables.

"Heavy rains and extended flooding in seed beds are going to be very damaging potentially," says Pokorny.

Yet of all the factors studied, sunlight was the most damaging to dye color, Wis-Surel says.

Such findings "may lead eventually to medications that reduce the damaging effects of alcohol in both fetal development and in adults," Charness speculates.

"I don't think anyone would ever take someone with a spinal cord injury and start damaging their peripheral nerves," he says.