John Travis

All Stories by John Travis

  1. Snap, Crackle, and Feel Good?

    Magnetic fields that map the brain may also treat its disorders.

  2. Hormone dulls a tongue’s taste for sweets

    The hormone leptin may suppress the tongue's ability to taste sugary substances.

  3. The Naked Truth? Lice hint at a recent origin of clothing

    A study of genetic differences among human lice hints at the origin of clothing.

  4. Did cavefish trade eyes for good taste?

    Certain blind cave-dwelling fish in Mexico may have developed more taste buds and bigger jaws as they lost their eyes.

  5. Livers: Better late than never

    Drawing on an ancient Greek myth, researchers have given the name prometheus to a mutant strain of zebrafish that appear to have no liver early in their lives.

  6. Probing Ocean Depths: Photosynthetic bacteria bare their DNA

    Scientists have deciphered the DNA of two highly abundant, photosynthetic ocean bacteria.

  7. Winning Bet: Horse and mule clones cross the finish line

    Scientists have for the first time cloned a mule and a horse.

  8. Moms and pups sniff out immune genes

    Genes involved in the immune system also create individualized body odors that allow parents and offspring to recognize each other.

  9. Untangling the Brain: Enzyme counters Alzheimer’s-like snarls

    The enzyme Pin1 prevents brain cells from developing harmful protein deposits called tangles.

  10. Health & Medicine

    Anthrax toxin curbs immune cells

    A toxin produced by the anthrax bacterium suppresses cells that launch the body's immune response.

  11. Old Worms, New Aging Genes

    The genes and hormonal signals that regulate life span in worms may do the same in people.

  12. Beyond Clots: Platelets in blood may guide immune response

    Platelets, best known for their ability to create blood clots in wounds, may also have a role in the immune system.