All Stories
- Astronomy
Unusual three-star system promises new test of gravity
A unique stellar threesome could help astronomers test the leading theory of gravity to unprecedented precision.
- Archaeology
Animal mummies were a message direct to the gods
A new theory about the purpose of animals mummified by ancient Egyptians proposes that the cats, ibises and other dead critters were more than just simple sacrifices.
- Life
Deadly influenza could strike aboriginal groups hardest
Native Alaskans and Australians tend to lack potent flu-fighting immune cells.
- Neuroscience
Hormone hampers effects of marijuana
Study of pot-blocking brain chemical in rodents could lead to new treatments for cannabis addiction.
- Animals
Flightless birds face extinction
New Zealand’s flightless birds have limped through the last few decades, but conservation efforts have had some success.
- Microbes
Gut bacteria respect diets, not borders
Malawian and Guahibo gut microbiomes resembled those of herbivorous mammals, while American guts were more similar to carnivores’.
- Physics
Google search fails to find any sign of time travelers
A search of the Internet for signs of time travelers from the future fares no better than the party hosted by Stephen Hawking that nobody attended.
- Physics
Tom’s top 10 time travel movies
The lack of a credible scientific basis doesn’t stop movie makers from making films about time travel.
- Climate
Mangroves move up Florida’s coast
Satellite images reveal that the tropical trees are expanding north up Florida’s Atlantic coast, taking advantage of rising winter temperatures.
- Health & Medicine
Nanoparticle injection blocks breast cancer growth in mice
A nanoparticle-based therapy delivered directly to the mammary ducts could potentially stop pre-cancerous cells from becoming full-blown breast cancer, scientists say.
- Neuroscience
All mice are the same, until they’re not
A new study shows substantial differences in how two closely related mouse strains respond to drugs. It offers new options for linking genes and behavior and may change how scientists think about the similarity of their mouse strains.
- Astronomy
Relic of early universe found nearby
A galaxy little changed since the dawn of the universe shows up in our celestial neighborhood.
