Life

  1. mouse at high altitude
    Animals

    The world’s highest-dwelling mammal isn’t the only rodent at extreme elevation

    After discovering a mouse living nearly 7,000 meters above sea level, scientists scoured other extreme environments to make sure the find wasn’t a fluke.

    By Meghan Rosen
  2. Photo of a wildlife crossing in Israel
    Ecosystems

    ‘Crossings’ explores the science of road ecology

    Ben Goldfarb talks about his new book, which looks at the science that’s helping to prevent animals from becoming roadkill.

    By Amanda Heidt
  3. An image of a pig embryo seen from the side with a large patch of red visible in its stomach.
    Health & Medicine

    Scientists grow humanized kidneys in pig embryos

    The work represents an important advance in the methods needed to grow humanized kidneys, hearts, and pancreases in animals.

    By Amanda Heidt
  4. mushroom
    Earth

    When discussing flora and fauna, don’t forget ‘funga’

    Conservation efforts often overlook fungi. That can change by using “mycologically inclusive language,” researchers say.

    By Jude Coleman
  5. dinobird illustration
    Paleontology

    This newfound birdlike dinosaur had surprisingly long legs

    Early birdlike dinosaurs are mostly short-limbed and thought to have lived in trees, but Fujianvenator prodigiosus may have run or waded in swamps.

    By Nikk Ogasa
  6. A gloved hand swaps a green leaf.
    Animals

    A new DNA leaf swab technique could revolutionize how we monitor biodiversity

    Simple swabs of just 24 leaves in Uganda’s Kibale National Park provided a genetic snapshot of 52 animals in the tropical forest.

    By Darren Incorvaia
  7. A 3-D image of the area between the skull and outer layer of the brain shows veins in pink and tunnels in blue vertical lines connecting the two layers.
    Neuroscience

    Bone marrow in the skull could be used to monitor Alzheimer’s, MS and more

    New observations of skull cell signals and skull tunnels suggest bone marrow there could be used to monitor neurological diseases.

    By Claudia López Lloreda
  8. Two yellowish branches of a finger coral from the species Porites compressa are pictured.
    Animals

    Adult corals have been safely frozen and revived for the first time

    Chunks of living corals could be frozen for safekeeping and revived later to restore reef ecosystems that are withering in warming seas.

    By Nikk Ogasa
  9. A photo of an EMI brain scanner.
    Health & Medicine

    50 years ago, X-rays provided an unprecedented look inside the brain

    CT scans can now image the whole body and are even used in other scientific fields such as archaeology, zoology and physics.

    By Lillian Steenblik Hwang
  10. Side-by-side of stained microscope images showing brains of old mice, where scientists found that age-related inflammation (stained green and yellow) in immune cells was prevalent in untreated mice (left) but was greatly reduced in mice treated with PF4 (right).
    Neuroscience

    Three ways of rejuvenating aging brains may work via the same protein

    Three brain rejuvenation methods may exert their effects through the same molecule, at least partly, which could lead to therapies for cognitive decline.

    By Simon Makin
  11. A photo of Susana López Charretón studying rotaviruses at her desk.
    Health & Medicine

    Mexican virologist Susana López Charretón uncovered rotaviruses’ secrets

    Knowledge of the complex dance between virus and host cell has led to the development of life-saving vaccines.

    By Inés Gutiérrez Jaber
  12. illustration of a person wearing pajamas flying through the air with blue a pink hues
    Neuroscience

    Here’s what lucid dreamers might tell us about our sleeping minds

    Lucid dreaming could prove to be a powerful tool for probing dreams, one of the most universal yet elusive human experiences.

    By Maria Temming