Life

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

More Stories in Life

  1. Plants

    These plants build ant condos that keep warring species apart 

    The unique architecture of some ball-like plants high in trees in Fiji lets violent ants live peacefully and feed the plant with valuable droppings.

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  2. Animals

    The mystery of melting sea stars may finally be solved 

    A bacterium called Vibrio pectenicida may be melting sea stars along North America’s Pacific coast.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Some probiotics could feed, rather than fend off, infections

    Probiotics containing Lactobacillus gasseri Lg-36 prevented C. difficile infections in mice, but L. acidophilus probiotics made infection more likely.

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  4. Paleontology

    A new species of ‘penis worm’ was discovered in the Grand Canyon

    A trove of fossils, including a penis worm with a spiked, invertible throat, suggests this spot may have been a cradle of Cambrian evolution.

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  5. Plants

    Potatoes have their roots in ancient tomatoes

    Knowing potatoes’ origin story could help future-proof the crucial crop against climate threats.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    A molecule produced by gut microbes may help spur heart disease

    A leftover from microbes’ meals is linked to early heart disease in people. In mice, it contributed to plaque buildup in the arteries.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    You may already have some protection from bird flu, but don’t count on it

    Studies suggest that people who had seasonal flus or vaccinations have low antibody levels against H5N1 bird flu.

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  8. Animals

    Some killer whales hunt in pairs to maximize their bounty

    Drone footage from Norway shows killer whales using a highly coordinated and cooperative hunting technique to catch herring.

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  9. Animals

    This desert beetle runs to cool off

    After a sprint, the temperature of the beetle Onymacris plana drops. Efficient running, a body built for cooling and a little bit of lift all help.

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