News

  1. Ecosystems

    Feces in termites’ nests block biological pest control

    Built-in poop nourishes bacteria that protect notorious Formosan species.

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  2. Tech

    Vitamin stops static electricity

    Clearing out uncharged molecules may prevent charge buildup.

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  3. Planetary Science

    Mars rover fails to find methane

    A dearth of the gas in the Red Planet's atmosphere disappoints scientists looking for signs of biological activity.

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  4. Animals

    Tiger, lion and domestic cat genes not so different

    Genomes of big felines provide insight into their evolution.

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  5. Psychology

    Poker pros’ arms betray their hands

    Top players' arm motions when betting provide clues to whether or not they hold strong cards.

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  6. Tech

    Bacterial batteries get a solid boost

    Using microbes to harvest energy from wastewater now has a silver lining, with the metal making reliable, rechargeable batteries.

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  7. Earth

    Hot spot deep beneath North America could have triggered quakes

    Mantle plume might have left trail of hot rock under continental US.

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  8. Genetics

    Genes for body symmetry may also control handedness

    Lefties and righties can thank same genes that put hearts on left side for hand dominance, study of thousands of people’s DNA suggests.

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  9. Psychology

    Bad acts spark a ‘cheater’s high’

    Committing low-stakes acts of dishonesty enhances perpetrators’ moods.

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  10. Earth

    Buried Saharan rivers might have been early expressways

    Humans might have migrated across the arid region along three once-lush waterways.

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  11. Physics

    Notorious ‘Big G’ gets a little larger

    Gravitational constant is difficult to measure, but physicists calculate with new number.

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  12. Animals

    Young insect legs have real meshing gears

    Tiny teeth on hiplike structures keep legs in sync, allowing juvenile planthoppers to jump.

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