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Science & Society

Asteroids closer to home may get us to Mars

NASA should abandon its attempt to bring a space rock into lunar orbit and instead scrutinize ones already whizzing by Earth, one scientist argues.

Life

A little good news for giant tortoises in the Galapagos

The giant tortoise population on the Galapagos island of Española is on the rebound, but there are still concerns about other markers of conserving the endangered species.

Microbes

Frozen caribou feces offers look at virus evolution

Genetic material extracted from caribou poop gives hints about how viruses evolve.

Science & Society

Sewing study stitches up Broadcom prize

Holly Jackson of San Jose, Calif., zigzagged her way through three days of science, engineering and math challenges to win the top prize at the Broadcom MASTERS middle school science competition.

Neuroscience

Brain difference found in people with chronic fatigue

Abnormality found in the brains of a small number of people with chronic fatigue syndrome is intriguing, but needs to be confirmed with more patients.

Health & Medicine

Heavy milk drinking may double women’s mortality rates

In a study of 60,000 Swedes, drinking three or more classes of milk a day was associated with higher chances of death, cancer and hip fractures.

Humans

Human ancestor Lucy celebrates 40th anniversary

Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson recalls the discovery 40 years ago of the human ancestor known as Lucy.

Environment

Oil from BP spill may be sitting on seafloor

More than four years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists find that oil is still lingering over a large area on the seafloor.

Paleontology

Ancient jellyfish suffered strange, sandy death

A fossil hints at the unusual series of events that led to an ancient jellyfish’s preservation and may offer clues to understanding odd sand deposits found elsewhere.

Health & Medicine

Harmless bacterium edges out intestinal germ

Researchers treated C. difficile infections in mice with a closely related bacteria that blocks C. difficile growth.

Health & Medicine

Daylight savings time tied to more exercise in children

Kids in Europe and Australia are slightly more active in longer-lit evenings, a new study shows.

Life

Cells make their move with their ‘skeletons’

A close look at exactly what makes cells move could lead to better defenses against the spread of cancer and improved wound healing.