All Stories
- Life
Male contraceptive test targets sperm’s travel route
Most efforts at a male contraceptive have focused on hormones, trying to stop production of sperm. A new study in mice explores leaving the sperm to themselves, and instead stops their transport.
- Health & Medicine
Triplet births decline as IVF practice evolves
The number of U.S. pregnancies resulting in three or more babies has gone down since 1998.
- Neuroscience
Excess activity shrinks blood vessels in baby mouse brains
Newborn mouse pups experience permanent brain changes when repeatedly overstimulated.
- Health & Medicine
Cell counts provide a read on ovarian cancer
New technology might discern which tumors are most dangerous and help guide treatment.
- Anthropology
Ancient hominid bone serves up DNA stunner
Spanish hominid fossil from 400,000 years ago reveals genetic ties to Asia’s mysterious Denisovans.
- Animals
How the ghost shark lost its stomach
The lack of a digestive organ in fish and other animals is linked to genetics.
- Science & Society
Best science to see and hear
Science Studio bills itself as “a collection of the best science multimedia on the web.
- Astronomy
ISON appears to have broken up after brush with sun
Comet ISON has disintegrated in the sun’s intense heat and gravity, according to a growing consensus among astronomers.
- Math
Rise of Big Data underscores need for theory
Big Data can help scientists cope with complex systems, but only with an appreciation of its limits and recognition of the need for theoretical modeling.
- Health & Medicine
Forecasting system predicts peaks in flu outbreaks
A real-time forecasting system has accurately predicted the peak flu cases up to nine weeks before the outbreak.
- Genetics
Evolution of venom, binge eating seen in snake DNA
Python and cobra genes evolved quickly to enable hunting strategies.
- Planetary Science
Moon wears dusty cloak
Old data from Apollo missions stir up debate about speed of lunar dust accumulation.
