Physics
The drama of Albert Einstein’s life unfolds in the new series Genius
Science takes a back seat in National Geographic’s series Genius, which focuses more on politics and Albert Einstein’s love life.
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Cover Story
Venomous fish have evolved many ways to inflict pain
Fish venom shows great diversity and is being studied to treat pain, cancer and other diseases.
Reviews & Previews
Science Visualized
Life
Cells’ stunning complexity on display in a new online portal
A new online explorer tool from the Allen Institute for Cell Science shows 3-D models of cell interiors.
Notebook
Planetary Science
It’s time to redefine what qualifies as a planet, scientists propose
Astronomers can have their definition of a planet, but some planetary scientists plan to stick to the long-held meaning of the word.
Features
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There’s still a lot we don’t know about the proton
Researchers are puzzling over the proton's radius, spin and whether it decays.
More Stories from the April 29, 2017 issue
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EarthDeadly New Zealand quake hopscotched across faults
The Nov. 14, 2016, earthquake in New Zealand was much larger than thought possible at the time, prompting a rethink of hazard assessments.
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ArchaeologyAncient Romans may have been cozier with Huns than they let on
Nomadic Huns and Roman farmers shared ways of life on the Roman Empire’s fifth century frontier.
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Quantum PhysicsMillions of atoms entangled in record-breaking quantum tests
Scientists make advance in the quest to take quantum effects to larger scales.
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ArchaeologyPalace remains in Mexico point to ancient rise of centralized power
An ancient royal structure gets new life in southern Mexico.
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AstronomySupermassive black hole gets kicked to the galactic curb
Gravitational waves may have given a supermassive black hole a big kick, with enough energy to send it flying toward the edges of its host galaxy.
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OceansThinning ice creates undersea Arctic greenhouses
Arctic sea ice thinned by climate change increasingly produces conditions favorable for phytoplankton blooms in the waters below, new research suggests.
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EcosystemsHawk moths convert nectar into antioxidants
Hawk moths use their sugary diet to make antioxidants that protect their muscles.
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Planetary ScienceExtreme gas loss dried out Mars, MAVEN data suggest
Over the planet’s history, the Martian atmosphere has lost 66 percent of its argon and a majority of its carbon dioxide, according to data from NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft.
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Health & MedicineGetting dengue first may make Zika infection much worse
Experiments in cells and mice suggest that a previous exposure to dengue or West Nile can make a Zika virus infection worse.
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AnimalsFor glass frogs, moms matter after all
Brief but important maternal care may have evolved before the elaborate egg-tending of glass frog dads.
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NeuroscienceMore brain differences seen between girls, boys with ADHD
ADHD looks different in the cerebellums of girls and boys with the condition.
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NeuroscienceFood odors are more enticing to sleep-deprived brains
Sleep deprivation makes the brain more sensitive to food smells.
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Health & MedicineEngineered immune cells boost leukemia survival for some
Engineered immune cells can extend life for some leukemia patients.
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AstronomyMassive red, dead galaxy spotted in young universe
A hefty red, dead galaxy may raise questions about how galaxies formed in the early universe.
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Health & MedicineCommon virus may be celiac disease culprit
A common virus may turn the immune system against gluten, leading to the development of celiac disease.
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Health & MedicineGenetic risk of getting second cancer tallied for pediatric survivors
Inherited mutations, not only treatment, affect the chances that a childhood cancer survivor will develop a second cancer later in life.
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HumansScientists seek early signs of autism
The search for autism biomarkers, in the blood and the brain, is heating up.
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Earth50 years ago, continental drift began to gain acceptance
Half a century later, plate tectonics is well-established but still an active field of research.
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AnimalsTropical bedbugs outclimb common species
A study of bedbug traps and feet names finds that tropical bedbugs are much better at scaling slippery walls than common bedbugs.