All Stories

  1. Astronomy

    White dwarf boosts light of stellar companion

    A gravitational lens in a binary star lets astronomers weigh the core of a dead star.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    Gene variant, processed meat linked to boost in cancer risk

    In people with a specific variation of a gene on chromosome 10, eating processed meat is associated with an increased risk of developing colon cancer.

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  3. Neuroscience

    Poor slumber is bad for young flies’ brains

    A child's sleep deprivation could alter brain development and adult behavior, a study of fruit flies suggests.

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  4. Life

    Protein that gets sperm into egg identified

    The protein Folr4 on a reproductive egg plays this crucial role in the fusion of the sperm and egg, research shows.

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  5. Tech

    To do: Exhibits to explore this May in D.C. and New York

    Events include a celebration of science and original watercolor paintings from John James Audubon.

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  6. Neuroscience

    Even with rest, brain changes linked to football linger

    The offseason may not allow enough time for football players' brains to heal from hard hits.

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  7. Animals

    How a chimp goes mattress hunting

    Chimpanzees prefer firm beds made of ironwood, a new study finds.

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  8. Paleontology

    Early meat-eater may have led to larger plant-eaters

    The newly identified Eocasea martini may have set the stage for later, much larger animals to become plant-eaters.

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  9. Genetics

    Gene activity sets humans apart from extinct hominids

    Differences in gene activity caused by DNA methylation distinguish modern people from Neandertals and Denisovans.

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  10. Astronomy

    Earth-sized planet found in star’s habitable zone

    Astronomers have found a potentially habitable Earth-sized planet around a cool red star.

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  11. Animals

    Most extreme female penis is found on cave lice

    Female penis, male vagina have been discovered in tiny Brazilian insects.

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  12. Physics

    Laser kicks molecules into fastest ever spin

    The powerful kick of a laser has spun molecules faster than they’ve ever been spun before: 10 trillion rotations per second, or 600 trillion RPM.

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