News

Earth

Is Teddy a pollution magnet?

Stuffed toys can accumulate high concentrations of potentially toxic air pollutants.

Ecosystems

Feminized cod on the high seas

Male cod in the open ocean are producing an egg-yolk protein ordinarily made only by females, signaling their potential exposure to estrogen-mimicking pollutants.

Earth

Elevated pesticide threatens amphibians

The survival of certain mountain-dwelling amphibians may be threatened by toxic pesticides that are blown uphill from distant agricultural lands in California's Central Valley.

Animals

Face Time: Bees can tell apart human portraits

Honeybees will learn to zoom up to particular human faces in a version of a facial-recognition test used for people.

Health & Medicine

Rare but Fatal Outcome: Four deaths may trace to abortion pill

In the past 5 years, four healthy women taking the abortion pill mifepristone have died of toxic shock syndrome.

Anthropology

Waves of Grain: New data lift old model of agriculture’s origins

A new analysis of the locations and ages of ancient farming sites reinforces the controversial idea that the groups that started raising crops in the Middle East gradually grew in number and colonized much of Europe.

Computing

Network Inoculation: Antivirus shield would outrace cyber infections

As a new way to protect a computer network from viruses, an epidemic of antiviral protection could theoretically propagate faster through the network than the virus itself, thanks to a novel topological twist.

Chemistry

Multitasking Miniatures: Tailor-made particles are versatile

A new class of tiny particles fashioned from metal and organic building blocks may lead to novel catalysts and sensors.

Paleontology

New View: Fossil offers novel look at an ancient bird

A newly described specimen of an ancient creature that most scientists consider the oldest known bird is posed in a way that provides new viewing angles for several body features.