News
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PsychologyBilingual babies cue in to languages
Babies exposed to two native tongues gain an early advantage in recognizing different languages.
By Bruce Bower -
HumansSweeps weak in human evolution
Contrary to conventional wisdom, the rapid spread of beneficial mutations has been relatively rare in the evolutionary history of Homo sapiens, a new study shows.
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LifePacking away the poison
A genetic adaptation in a Hudson River fish species allows it to simply store toxic pollutants in its fat.
By Janet Raloff -
LifeHibernation mystery
Somehow overwintering bears slow their metabolic rates far more than their slightly decreased body temperatures would predict.
By Susan Milius -
PhysicsAntilaser sucks up light
A new technology could be used in optical computing.
By Devin Powell -
Health & MedicineSaving preemies’ vision
A drug designed to fight cancer also may thwart aberrant blood vessel growth in the eyes of babies born preterm, a study finds.
By Nathan Seppa -
HumansIce Age cups crafted from crania
An English cave serves up the oldest known vessels made from human skulls
By Bruce Bower -
HumansHuman ancestors have identity crisis
Fossils heralded as the remains of 4- to 7-million-year-old hominids might actually come from apes.
By Bruce Bower -
Space‘Deep Impact’ comet revisited
NASA takes pictures of Tempel 1 five years after shooting it with a probe.
By Ron Cowen -
LifeCarnivorous bladderworts suck up prey
High-speed movies confirm that bug-eating plants are vacuum feeders.
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Health & MedicineBrain cells start sending signals early
Fetal neurons show firing patterns similar to those seen in sleeping adults.
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Humans2012 budget offers pain and gain for R&D
In a year of federal belt-tightening, the administration prioritizes basic research, education, clean energy and environmental science.
By Janet Raloff