Notebook

Life

New gut-dwelling virus is surprisingly common

It’s not clear yet whether the bacteriophage crAssphage, found in people’s intestines, has any health effects.

Astronomy

Distance to quasars debated

Some astronomers thought quasars were buzzing around our galaxy; turns out these starlike objects live on the other side of the universe.

Animals

New subspecies of Philippine tarsier discovered

Genetic tests settle a taxonomic debate surrounding Philippine tarsier, one of the world’s smallest primates.

Materials Science

Nature-inspired camouflage changes its looks with light

Thin, flexible new material steals the color-shifting capabilities of cephalopod skin.

Planetary Science

To explain asteroid composition, scientists invoke nuts

Brazil nut effect may explain why only large boulders dot surfaces of asteroids.

Health & Medicine

Survey catalogs what is stressing out Americans

Along with work and other responsibilities, health problems are prominent causes of stress.

Math

Father-son mathematicians fold math into fonts

MIT’s Erik and Martin Demaine create puzzle typefaces to test new ideas.

Earth

Cloud seeding fueled fire about weather modification

Experiments in 1964 resulted in “exploding” clouds.

Tech

Robots start flat, then pop into shape and crawl

The machines use heated hinges to transform into shape and crawl around.

Animals

‘Octomom’ sets egg-brooding record

The deep ocean reveals a new record as an octopus mom broods the same clutch of eggs for almost 4.5 years.

Animals

Parchment worms are best pinched in the dark

Meek tube-dwelling worms have strange glowing mucus and build papery tubes.

Health & Medicine

Boot camp bug

Adenoviruses, which cause respiratory illnesses including some colds, plague boot camps.