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Human Growth Displays Ancient Roots
The prolonged period of childhood growth and development characteristic of modern humans may have arisen as early as 800,000 years ago in direct ancestors of Homo sapiens.
Genetic engineering eases laundry woes
An engineered enzyme oxidizes dyes that bleed from colored fabrics into water and stain lighter clothing in a laundry load.
Common pollutants undermine masculinity
Fetal exposure to certain common environmental pollutants, such as phthalates, can feminize male animals or impair their reproductive organs by blocking the activity of male sex hormones.
Allergy vaccine may take fear out of nuts
Researchers have developed an oral vaccine that protects mice against the worst effects of peanut allergies.
Carbon dioxide buildup harms coral reefs
The accumulation of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere is stunting the growth of coral reefs.
Cloud of bloated atoms takes hot shots
A cloud of highly excited atoms, each with an electron boosted into a far-flung orbit by a laser beam, acts as the film in a new kind of infrared camera.
Color code tells bumblebees where to buzz
A flashy North American wildflower has an unusual combination of pollination tricks: anthers that respond to buzzing and color shifts that signal a flower's reproductive potential.
Large-format camera snaps first color view
Recently installed on a telescope in Chile, one of the largest astronomical cameras ever built has imaged the spiral galaxy NGC 4945 and its surroundings.
Marijuana mimic reveals brain role
A natural brain chemical that mimics the active ingredient of marijuana inhibits nerve cells that trigger physical actions.
Look Who's Dancing
Check out the steps—and the songs—of honeybees' overlooked cousins
A stingless bee in Panama dances with a sophistication to rival the honeybee, and even bumblebees show a crude form of communication.
Quantum Internet
The quirks of quantum mechanics may lead to better computer networks
The possibility of linking quantum computers into networks that might outperform their classical cousins creeps closer to reality.
Biology
Scientists' lights blind deep-sea shrimp
Lights on the minisubmarines that scientists use to explore life around deep-sea hydrothermal vents may be permanently blinding shrimp there.
Chipmunks' unpleasant reminders
Chipmunks tend to urinate on spots where they've dug up all the food—the first time a rodent has been discovered to scent mark depleted patches.
Biomedicine
Help is on the way for insomnia
Training in techniques that promote better sleep together with a frequently prescribed sleeping pill can help elderly people limit insomnia.
Vinegar swab reveals cervical problems
A vinegar swab and visual inspection of the cervix for abnormal cell growth may serve as a useful, inexpensive test for precancerous tissue.
Earth Science
Gas emissions from mowed grass
Grass clippings release a burst of hydrocarbons as they dry.
Ozone killer confounds expectations
Atmospheric concentrations of an ozone-destroying chemical called halon-1211 have risen at a surprisingly rapid rate over the past decade.
Physics
Quantum onions rarely blink
By adding a thin impurity layer to a cluster of atoms known as a quantum dot, researchers have created a structure whose steady glow under laser light may prove useful.
New memories tap spin, gird for battle
Memory chips based on electrons' magnetism, or spin, are moving into the market, promising instant start-up computers that can forego loading data from disks.
