All Stories
- Oceans
Ocean current simulations could narrow Flight 370 search
Aircraft debris found on Réunion Island in the western Indian Ocean could originate from the northern half of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370’s search area, ocean simulations show.
- Planetary Science
Map of Ceres’ surface shows surprises
Clusters of craters on Ceres and smooth landscapes hint at an unusual past for the dwarf planet.
- Genetics
How Ethiopian highlanders adapted to breathe thin air
Lower levels of a heart protein may help Ethiopian highlanders breathe thin air, researchers report.
- Environment
Dust components may promote obesity
Fat dust bunnies may contain obesity-boosting chemicals.
By Beth Mole - Climate
Iceless Arctic summers now expected by 2050s
The Arctic Ocean will have its first ice-free summer in the 2050s, nine years earlier than previously forecast, according to improved simulations.
- Climate
Desert dig uncovers caches of missing CO2
Irrigation water may wash significant amounts of carbon into groundwater systems beneath Earth’s deserts, researchers propose.
- Health & Medicine
Ebola vaccine protects people in West Africa
In Guinea trial, zero cases of Ebola occurred in people potentially exposed who received immediate shots of a new experimental vaccine.
By Nathan Seppa - Animals
How bears engineer Japanese forests
In Japanese forests, black bears climb trees, breaking limbs. Those gaps in the forest provide light to fruiting plants, a new study finds.
- Health & Medicine
Kidney transplants may benefit from a slightly chilled donor
Transplanted kidneys performed better when taken from organ donors whose bodies were intentionally cooled after death.
- Health & Medicine
Antibiotics early in life may have lingering effects
A study in mice show long-lasting effects from courses of antibiotics early in life.
- Health & Medicine
The five basic tastes have sixth sibling: oleogustus
Scientists dub the taste of fat oleogustus.
- Animals
Where salamanders should be very afraid
Three zones of North America at high risk if the salamander-killing fungus disease Bsal invades.
By Susan Milius