Feature
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EarthHammered Saws
Sawfish, shark relatives that almost went extinct several decades ago, have now gained protection by international treaty.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & MedicineTaking a Jab at Cancer
Vaccines that train a person's immune system to kill cancerous cells, when combined with drugs that block tumor defense mechanisms, are starting to show promise.
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AnthropologyRed-Ape Stroll
Wild orangutans regularly walk upright through the trees, raising the controversial possibility that the two-legged stance is not unique to hominids.
By Bruce Bower -
EarthSigns of Life?
Life's effects on a planet's terrain show up only in surprisingly subtle ways.
By Sid Perkins -
ComputingVirtual Surgery
Computer simulations of blood flow in the heart allow doctors to test surgical innovations before trying them on patients.
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AnimalsNot-So-Elementary Bee Mystery
Old-style epidemiology casework combines with an array of 21st-century lab tests in the search for clues to the disappearance of honeybees.
By Susan Milius -
PhysicsThe Power of Induction
A new technology based on classical electromagnetic theory uses oscillating magnetic fields to transfer electric power wirelessly across a room.
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MathMathematical Lives of Plants
Mathematical models that capture the essence of biological growth mechanisms are beginning to reveal how plants develop structures with intriguingly elegant geometries.
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Health & MedicineBrain Attack
Although they have explored many promising ideas, scientists are finding it difficult to develop new treatments to limit the damage caused by ischemic strokes.
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Health & MedicineRestoring Scents
Experimental treatments may activate the sense of smell in people who can detect few or no odors.
By Janet Raloff -
Trouble in Paradise
Schizophrenia strikes inhabitants of the Micronesian nation of Palau, especially the men, at an unusually high rate, raising questions about culture's role in a disease usually regarded as purely biological.
By Bruce Bower