News
- Astronomy
Galaxy seed found from 3 billion years after Big Bang
A still-growing core of a galaxy in the early universe may help astronomers understand how massive elliptical galaxies get their start.
- Animals
Passenger pigeon population had booms and busts
DNA says the birds recovered from hard times — until people came along.
By Susan Milius - Life
Autoimmune diseases stopped in mice
Reprogramming immune cells may offer a way to treat autoimmune diseases without harming the body’s ability to fight infections.
- Humans
Skulls reveal Neandertal’s hodge-podge genealogy
A new analysis of ancient hominid skulls reveals a patchy anatomical start of the Neandertal lineage.
- Quantum Physics
Commercial quantum computer fails to impress in new test
Fifteen million dollar D-Wave machine runs no faster than traditional computer in head-to-head challenge.
By Andrew Grant - Neuroscience
Sunbathing may boost endorphins in the body and brain
UV light makes mice churn out a molecule that is a cousin of morphine and heroin, a finding that may explain why some people seek out sunshine.
- Environment
Triclosan may spoil wastewater treatment
Common antimicrobial could make microbes more drug resistant and less efficient at breaking down sewage sludge in municipal treatment plants.
By Beth Mole - Physics
Supercooled liquid water hits record low
Weird supercooled water well below its freezing point viewed with ultrafast laser.
By Andrew Grant - Psychology
Children negotiate taking turns surprisingly early in life
Five-year-olds can coordinate decisions with others in a fair way, even when each child has conflicting interests.
By Bruce Bower - Neuroscience
Brain signal reappears after ADHD symptoms fade
In adults who no longer have ADHD, brain synchrony appears.
- Animals
Swimming evolved several times in treetop ants
Certain ants living in tropical forest canopies turn out to be fine swimmers.
By Susan Milius - Earth
Earth’s deep interior holds vast reservoir of water
Ocean’s worth of water trapped in Earth’s mantle, lab experiments and seismic data suggest.