Uncategorized
- Paleontology
Ancient fish may have set stage for jaws
A fish called Metaspriggina walcotti, which lived roughly 500 million years ago, had body parts that may have later evolved into jaws.
- Astronomy
Supermassive black hole kills monster galaxy
A supermassive black hole appears to have shut down star formation in an ancient, massive galaxy.
- Animals
Ant sperm swim as a team
The desert ant has sperm that swim in bundles for extra speed, perhaps increasing their likelihood of fertilizing an egg.
- Health & Medicine
Number of skin moles tied to breast cancer risk
Women who have many moles also have increased disease risk, which may reflect higher estrogen levels.
By Nathan Seppa - Animals
Winter road salting reshapes next summer’s butterflies
Winter road salt treatments boost sodium in roadside plants and alter development for monarch butterflies.
By Susan Milius - Life
Oxytocin stimulates repair of old mice’s muscles
The naturally produced hormone oxytocin, well known for its role in social bonding, may help heal injured muscles in the elderly.
- Astronomy
Stopping starlight may bring other Earths into focus
Two new telescope concepts compete for NASA’s approval, in hopes of taking the first picture of a life-bearing exoplanet.
- Agriculture
Fertilizer produces far more greenhouse gas than expected
Farmers’ overuse of nitrogen-based fertilizers may explain previously puzzling high emissions of nitrous oxide.
By Beth Mole - Astronomy
Hubble space telescope spies teenage galaxies
New Hubble telescope images show ultraviolet radiation from stars born during the universe’s adolescent phase.
- Neuroscience
Rats feel regret, experiment finds
When they turn down a good meal for a lesser one, rodents regret their choice, a study suggests.
- Materials Science
New invisibility cloak hides in the fog
A simple invisibility cloak relies on hazy environments to mask objects.
By Andrew Grant - Paleontology
Preserved pterosaur eggs hint at reptile’s social life
The first 3-D pterosaur eggs, which were found in China, suggest that the flying reptiles laid eggs together.
By Meghan Rosen