Vol. 189 No. 13
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More Stories from the June 25, 2016 issue

  1. Oceans

    Ancient tsunamis reshaped Mars’ landscape

    Ancient tsunamis generated by meteorite impacts may have reshaped ocean coastlines on Mars.

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  2. Neuroscience

    Wiping out gut bacteria impairs brain

    Antibiotics that wiped out gut bacteria curbed brain cell production in mice, a new study finds.

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  3. Genetics

    Risk identified in procedure for ‘three-parent babies’

    Resurgent mitochondria could spell trouble for disease therapy.

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  4. Tech

    Insect-sized bot is first to both fly, land

    A tiny aerial robot nicknamed RoboBee uses static electricity to perch on surfaces midflight. The landing device could one day help robots conserve energy during search and rescue missions.

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  5. Life

    Scientists find way to break through bad bacteria’s defenses

    Enzymes can break down bacterial biofilm’s sugary walls.

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  6. Astronomy

    Young sun’s super solar flares helped set early Earth up for life

    Super solar flares may have provided early Earth with planet-warming and life-building molecules.

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  7. Planetary Science

    Seismic experiment might reveal thickness of Europa’s ice

    Crashing an empty rocket fuel tank into the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, could help scientists figure out the thickness of the ice.

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  8. Archaeology

    Stone circles show Neandertals’ social, technical skills

    Ancient human relatives built circular stalagmite structures inside a French cave.

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  9. Neuroscience

    Alzheimer’s culprit may fight other diseases

    A notorious Alzheimer’s villain may help bust microbes.

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  10. Life

    Fruit fly’s giant sperm is quite an exaggeration

    Giant sperm, about 20 times a male fruit fly’s body length, could make the insects the champs of supersized sexual ornaments.

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  11. Quantum Physics

    Schrödinger’s cat now dead and alive in two boxes at once

    The living-dead feline has been split in two, using a system of microwaves inside superconducting cavities.

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  12. Computing

    New technique produces real randomness

    A new technique makes it easier for computers to roll the dice.

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  13. Earth

    Plate tectonics just a stage in Earth’s life cycle

    Plate tectonics is just a phase in a planet’s lifetime between conditions that are too hot or too cold for the planet-churning mechanism, new simulations suggest.

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  14. Life

    Jumping gene turned peppered moths the color of soot

    A single gene is behind some of the most famous examples of natural selection.

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  15. Animals

    Pygmy blue whales deepen their moans

    Sri Lankan pygmy blue whales are tweaking their calls — making one part deeper and keeping another part the same — but scientists can’t say why. The finding injects a new wrinkle in theories about blue whale calls.

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  16. Psychology

    Kids’ anxieties, depression need attention

    Psychological troubles in childhood are no longer considered a part of normal development.

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  17. Plants

    Scary tomato appears to bleed

    A new species of Australian bush tomato bleeds when injured and turns bony in old age.

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  18. Chemistry

    Movie viewers’ exhaled chemicals tell if scene is funny, scary

    Changes in trace gases exhaled by movie audiences could point the way to a subtle form of human communication.

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  19. Life

    Biologists seek help to ‘see’ itty-bitty molecules in 3-D

    A new citizen science project called Microscopy Masters aims to improve how scientists build three-dimensional models of proteins.

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  20. Genetics

    Some Stone Age humans ventured back to Africa

    DNA from an ancient woman suggests some humans trekked back to Africa.

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  21. Animals

    Tiny plastics cause big problems for perch, lab study finds

    Researchers have linked microplastics to feeding behavior changes and development issues in Baltic Sea perch.

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