Science Ticker
A roundup of research and breaking news
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Animals
Insect queens sterilize workers with similar chemical
When exposed to a form of saturated hydrocarbons that mimicked the queen’s scent, the worker insects’ ovaries degraded.
- Plants
Plants’ ATP collector found
Scientists identified two genes that write the code for the molecules, or receptors, that pull ATP into plant cells.
- Animals
Jellyfish bloom in spring when winter ‘timer’ dings
The coordinated appearance of the adult form of the animal is the result of a metamorphosis hormone that accumulates during winter months.
- Animals
Head cam shows how falcons track prey
Falcons use motion camouflage to capture flying prey, a new study shows.
- Astronomy
Planet found around sun twin in star cluster
The exoplanet YBP1194b orbits a twin of the sun in the star cluster Messier 67. Astronomers found three planets orbiting stars in the cluster.
- Genetics
Scorpion’s sting evolved from insects’ defensive proteins
With a single genetic mutation, an insect’s defensive proteins can be transformed into a toxin that gives scorpions their signature sting, a new study shows.
- Genetics
Microbe and human genes influence stomach cancer risk
When genes of the bacterium and its human host evolve together, the strain is less harmful than that same strain in a person whose ancestors didn't encounter that particular microbe.
- Genetics
Elephant shark genome small and slow to evolve
The animals have the smallest genome of non-bony fishes and the slowest-evolving genes among vertebrates, a study suggests.
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Extinct ocean reptiles now appear in color
Fossilized turtle, mosasaur and ichthyosaur tissue holds skin pigments that give scientists clues about what the animals looked like and how the coloration may have helped in colder climates.
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Social networks stay small despite social networking
When adding new friends to social circles, people unconsciously bump others out, keeping social circles small and finite.
- Health & Medicine
Nanoparticle injection blocks breast cancer growth in mice
A nanoparticle-based therapy delivered directly to the mammary ducts could potentially stop pre-cancerous cells from becoming full-blown breast cancer, scientists say.
- Health & Medicine
Distractions raise crash risk for newly licensed drivers
The risk of a crash or near-crash for newly licensed drivers is tripled or greater when they are eating, texting or rubbernecking, researchers report.
