Planetary Science
‘The Martian’ is entertaining science fiction rooted in fact
With NASA’s help, filmmakers made story of astronaut stranded on Mars believable.
Reviews & Previews
Science Visualized
Particle Physics
Map captures Earth’s antineutrino glow
Tiny subatomic particles called antineutrinos stream away from Earth at different concentrations across the globe, a new map illustrates.
Notebook
Astronomy
Choose Ninja, Cervantes or Rosalind as names for exoplanets
Names for 20 exoplanets are in the hands of a discerning online audience.
Features
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Feng Zhang: Editing DNA
Scientist Feng Zhang has developed a system to easily and precisely edit genomes.
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Steve Ramirez: Erasing fear memories
Neuroscientist Steve Ramirez is manipulating memories in mice to one day erase fearful memories of PTSD.
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Isaac Kinde: Finding cancer via altered genes
Isaac Kinde helped create a technology that can spot cancers early to give patients a better chance at survival.
More Stories from the October 3, 2015 issue
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Science & SocietyContentious science topics on Wikipedia subject to editing mischief
Global warming and other politically charged issues are prime targets for sabotage on Wikipedia.
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EarthMillions of dollars’ worth of gold and silver found beneath volcanoes
A jackpot of dissolved gold and silver discovered in reservoirs of hot water beneath New Zealand’s Taupo Volcanic Zone.
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ClimateHurricane’s tiny earthquakes could help forecasters
Hurricane Sandy set off small earthquakes under its eye as it moved up the U.S. East Coast in 2012. The tiny tremors could help researchers track the behavior of future storms, researchers propose.
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PhysicsHawking proposes solution to black hole problem
Light sliding along the boundary of a black hole encodes everything that ever fell inside, suggests Stephen Hawking in a new but incomplete proposal.
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AnimalsDecoy switches frogs’ mating call preference
A female túngara frog may switch her choice between two prospective mates when presented with a third, least attractive option.
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Health & MedicineVaccinated man excretes live poliovirus for nearly 3 decades
For almost 30 years, a man with an immune deficiency has been shedding poliovirus strains that have evolved from the version he received in a vaccine.
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PsychologyPsychology results evaporate upon further review
Less than half of psychology findings get reproduced on second tries, a study finds.
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AnthropologyAncient pottery maps route to South Pacific
New Guinea pottery points to a key meeting of island natives and seafarers at least 3,000 years ago.
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Health & MedicineHow farm life can prevent allergies
Farm dust prevents allergies by turning on an anti-inflammatory enzyme in the cells lining mice’s lungs.
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AnimalsSame math describes relationship between diverse predators and prey
From lions to plankton, predators have about the same relationship to the amount of prey, a big-scale ecology study predicts.
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AstronomyFirst known exoplanets have few counterparts
The first known exoplanets were discovered around pulsars — probably one of the least likely places to have been found, astronomers now say.
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EnvironmentLatest BPA replacement seeps into people’s blood and urine
Replacements for BPA called BPS and BPSIP may raise health risks for cashiers.
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Materials ScienceGraphene shows signs of superconductivity
Ultrathin sheets of carbon can conduct electrical current with no resistance at low temperatures.
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LifeSmall number of genes trigger embryo development
New views of early embryo development reveal differences between humans and mice.
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AnthropologyFossils suggest new species from human genus
Undated South African cave fossils may reveal a new species in the human genus.
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AnimalsThese fish would rather walk
Slowpokes of the sea, frogfish and handfish creep along the ocean bottom.
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GeneticsBenyam Kinde: Gene expression and Rett syndrome
M.D.-Ph.D. student Benyam Kinde studies how genetic changes affect brain cells’ activity in Rett syndrome.
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NeurosciencePriya Rajasethupathy: Memories mark DNA
Neuroscientist Priya Rajasethupathy has discovered a tiny molecule that may turn off part of the genome to help the brain store long-term memories.
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LifeGia Voeltz: Redrawing the cell’s floor plan
Cell biologist Gia Voeltz has changed our view of the endoplasmic reticulum.
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Quantum PhysicsShinsei Ryu: Error-free quantum calculations
Physicist Shinsei Ryu navigates the confusing border between the quantum and everyday realms.
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Particle PhysicsWilliam Detmold: Looking deep into atoms’ hearts
MIT theoretical physicist William Detmold probes the fundamental bits of matter that combine to form the nuclei of atoms.
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ChemistrySarah Reisman: Better synthesis of natural compounds
Chemist Sarah Reisman is trying to find new ways to build complicated chemical compounds found in nature.
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NeuroscienceYasser Roudi: Creating maps in the brain
Physicist Yasser Roudi does the math on how the brain and other complex systems process information.
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Science & SocietyMeet 10 scientists who are making their mark
In a special report, Science News features 10 early-career scientists on their way to more widespread acclaim.
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PaleontologyNew dolphin fossil makes a splash
A newly discovered dolphin fossil provides clues to the evolution of river dolphins in the Americas.
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AnimalsTropical songbirds get their growth spurt late
Tropical songbirds are late bloomers, but that delayed development may give them an advantage after leaving the nest.
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AnimalsChimps keep numbers high as forest losses mount
African apes show surprising resilience in face of forest destruction.
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LifeNew microscope techniques give deepest view yet of living cells
Two new microscopy techniques are helping scientists see smaller structures in living cells than ever glimpsed before.
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Health & MedicineIn 1965, hopes were high for artificial hearts
Developing artificial hearts took longer than expected, and improved devices are still under investigation.
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Health & MedicineCoffee reveals itself as an unlikely elixir
Coffee is earning a reputation as a health tonic, reducing risk for a long list of ailments and even lowering death rates.