All Stories
- Environment
Engineered plants demolish toxic waste
With help from bacteria, plants could one day clean up polluted sites.
By Beth Mole - Humans
Anglo-Saxons left language, but maybe not genes to modern Britons
Modern Britons may be more closely related to Britain’s indigenous people than they are to the Anglo-Saxons, a new genetic analysis finds.
- Physics
Laser tractor beam tugs on beads
A new experiment is the first to construct a tractor beam that can pull objects over long distances with light.
By Andrew Grant - Genetics
Camels’ number of humps may affect their fat storage
The number of humps camels and alpacas have may play a role in how well they store and break down fat.
- Genetics
Gene variant helps dog evade muscular dystrophy
A dog that has a mutation causing muscular dystrophy has another genetic variant that appears to counteract the disease.
- Science & Society
Two books explore winding path from basic science to useful invention
‘How We Got to Now’ and ‘Science Unshackled’ explain how basic scientific research can transform society in unexpected ways.
By Sid Perkins - Planetary Science
Comet Siding Spring makes close pass by Mars
Mars appears to have survived its close encounter with comet Siding Spring mostly unscathed.
- Physics
Perfect fluid of electrons may flow inside superconductor
Understanding superconductors’ viscosity could help inspire scientists to find ways to improve the electric power grid.
By Andrew Grant - Animals
Camouflaged fish found hiding in plain sight
Rockpool gobies change color depending on their background.
- Psychology
Majority doesn’t always rule in teen booze use
Having one abstainer as a friend cuts teens’ odds of getting drunk and binge drinking, a study finds.
By Bruce Bower - Physics
Complete double rainbow encircles Australian town
A photographer in a helicopter captured a double circular rainbow while flying around a storm near Perth, Australia.
- Cosmology
‘The Theory of Everything’ reveals Stephen Hawking’s personal side
A new film explores love and science in the life of physicist Stephen Hawking.
By Andrew Grant