Life

Sign up for our newsletter

We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Anthropology

    Ancient European farmers and foragers hooked up big time

    Interbreeding escalated in regionally distinct ways across Neolithic Europe.

    By
  2. Animals

    This deep-sea fish uses weird eyes to see in dark and light

    The eyes of deep-sea fish called pearlsides contain cells that look like rods but act like cones.

    By
  3. Animals

    Crested pigeons sound the alarm with their wings

    Crested pigeons have specialized feathers that signal danger when they flee from an apparent threat.

    By
  4. Animals

    Honeybees fumble their way to blueberry pollination

    Blueberry flowers drive honeybees to grappling, even stomping a leg or two down a bloom throat, to reach pollen.

    By
  5. Neuroscience

    See these first-of-a-kind views of living human nerve cells

    A catalog of live brain cells reveals stunning diversity and intricate shapes, and may help scientists understand the abilities of the human brain.

    By
  6. Animals

    EPA OKs first living pest-control mosquito for use in United States

    Feds approve non-GM male tiger mosquitoes for sale as fake dads to suppress local pests.

    By
  7. Genetics

    Scientists replaced 80 percent of a ‘butterfly’ boy’s skin

    By correcting genes in stem cells and growing new skin in the lab, a new therapy repaired a genetic skin disease.

    By
  8. Health & Medicine

    Human study supports theory on why dengue can be worse the next time around

    The amount of dengue antibodies leftover in the blood may up the chances of a severe second dengue infection, a study finds.

    By
  9. Animals

    Face it: Sheep are just like us when it comes to recognizing people

    Sheep trained to recognize celebrity faces demonstrate that the animals have face-recognition capabilities similar to humans and other primates.

    By
  10. Neuroscience

    Alzheimer’s protein can travel from blood to build up in the brain

    Experiments in mice show Alzheimer’s protein can travel from the blood of an affected mouse to the brain of a healthy animal.

    By
  11. Ecosystems

    Invasive species are a growing global threat

    'The Aliens Among Us' describes how invasive species are colonizing — and disrupting — ecosystems worldwide.

    By
  12. Animals

    Here’s why some water striders have fans on their legs

    A fan of tiny, elegant plumes on their legs helps certain water striders dash across flowing water without getting wet.

    By