Atmospheric bands of water vapor can cause flooding and extreme weather (p. 20)

The amygdala, a part of the brain known for its role in fear, also helps people spot rewards — and go after them (p. 22)

Some nutritional supplements provide real food for thought (p. 26)

New finds suggest surprisingly early migrations by Homo sapiens out of Africa through an oasis-studded Arabia. (p. 5)

Inflicting damage on targeted species can help preserve perturbed ecosystems. (p. 8)

Chemicals used to break up oil remained in the Gulf’s depths months after being released, an analysis shows. (p. 8)

Analysis reveals widespread, hidden contamination by the sometimes lethal parasites. (p. 9)

Amid icy retreats in neighboring ranges, ice in Karakoram region may even be growing, thanks to debris cover. (p. 9)

Re-creating a 'sense of touch' for prosthetic limbs may someday improve how people use them. (p. 10)

Among developed countries, Americans spend the most on health care even as they fall behind in extending longevity, a new study finds. (p. 10)

Durable conduits made with a tough protein produced by living cells might improve options for some patients who need heart bypass surgery or kidney dialysis, a new study finds. (p. 11)

A massive study of millions of people in China finds no association between receiving the 2009 H1N1 immunization and developing the rare nervous system disorder. (p. 11)

A powerful new laser technique promises to reveal the cell’s molecular components in detailed, 3-D images. (p. 12)

Using natural crystals, researchers have found a way to make objects up to a few millimeters tall disappear. (p. 12)

An unorthodox family structure may have helped longhorn crazy ants spread around the globe. (p. 14)

New studies unveil the fire ant genome and why honeybee personalities matter, plus more in the week’s biology news. (p. 14)

Often associated with feelings of closeness, oxytocin can make people more or less trusting depending on their underlying social outlook. (p. 15)

How cell phones exert subtle mind control, plus more in this week’s news. (p. 15)

As told through DNA from historical samples, a deadly bacterium reveals how it developed the ability to evade antibiotics and a vaccine. (p. 16)

New method transforms skin cells directly into beating cardiac cells. (p. 16)

Simulations suggest some slow-burning remnants of the early universe may still exist. (p. 18)

The Kepler mission releases information on hundreds of newly discovered candidate planets beyond the solar system, including about 50 that could be habitable. (p. 18)

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Review by Janet Raloff (p. 30)

Review by Susan Milius (p. 30)

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