All Stories
- Humans
Bigger numbers, not better brains, smarten human cultures
An experiment using a computer game supports the idea that big populations drove the evolution of complex human cultures.
- Physics
Single atoms hold on to information
Minutes-long data storage by individual atoms beats previous record of tiny fraction of a second.
- Oceans
Extremely salty water is at least 100 million years old
Supersaline sediments off East Coast shed light on Atlantic Ocean’s early history.
- Animals
The hottest guy guppies stand out in a crowd
A new study shows that sexy male guppies are the ones who stand out the most, the rarest in the crowd. But what is the rare male effect for?
- Neuroscience
Bacteria may transfer mom’s stress to fetus
Expecting mice under psychological pressure passed different mix of microbes to their pups, affecting the babies’ brains.
- Animals
Gassed snails can’t jump
When exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide, some snails move like slugs and others don’t jump at all.
- Life
Penguin’s flight from Antarctica clocked
A climate shift millions of years ago may have forced the birds’ ancestors to flee to warmer digs.
- Animals
Sea slug mating features a stab in the head
Newly discovered hermaphroditic sea slug deploys specialized needle-thin organ for injections near the eyes.
- Microbes
Surprising metals found in microbes
Scientists discover the first case of an organism needing a rare earth element for survival.
- Animals
Deer and other animals can survive being impaled
Whether they are hunting shots gone wrong or something more sinister, stories of animals surviving such misfortunes are not uncommon.
- Neuroscience
Mold chemical linked to movement disorder
Fruit flies’ brains and human cells show Parkinson’s-like changes when exposed to fungi toxin.
- Microbes
Microbes help hyenas send status updates
Bacteria in the animals’ waste give off fumes that let passersby know who has been there before.
