Life

Sign up for our newsletter

We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Neuroscience

    If chewing sounds irk you, blame your brain

    People who find chewing and slurping sounds annoying have structural differences in their brains.

    By
  2. Animals

    Dragonfish opens wide with flex neck joint

    New study reveals anatomical secrets of mysterious deep ocean fish.

    By
  3. Animals

    What gives frog tongues the gift of grab

    Here’s what puts the grip in a frog’s high-speed strike: quick-change saliva and a tongue softer than a marshmallow.

    By
  4. Life

    Map of Zika virus reveals how it shifts as it matures

    A cryo-electron microscopy map of immature Zika virus offers a never-before-seen glimpse of remodeling of the virus’s protein and RNA core.

    By
  5. Health & Medicine

    Rogue antibody linked to severe second dengue infections

    Alternate antibody may indicate whether someone is susceptible to severe dengue disease.

    By
  6. Life

    Why salmonella doesn’t want you to poop out

    Salmonella bacteria fight infection-driven losses in appetite to keep hosts just healthy enough for transmission.

    By
  7. Anthropology

    Snooze patterns vary across cultures, opening eyes to evolution of sleep

    Sleep plays out differently across cultures, but a consistent cycle of z’s and activity appears crucial.

    By
  8. Plants

    Big genetics study blazes path for bringing back tomato flavor

    Combining taste tests with genetics suggests what makes heirloom varieties tastier than mass-market tomatoes.

    By
  9. Life

    Mouse cells grown in rats cure diabetes in mice

    Mixing cells of two species produces pig and cattle embryos with some human cells.

    By
  10. Animals

    Endings make way for new beginnings for Earth and SN

    Editor in chief Eva Emerson discusses major changes for life on Earth and at Science News.

    By
  11. Animals

    Readers weigh in on mathematical animals and more

    Animal math, dinosaur digestion and more in reader feedback from our December 10, 2017, issue.

    By
  12. Earth

    Devastation detectives try to solve dinosaur disappearance

    Dinosaurs and others faced massive losses 66 million years ago from an asteroid impact, volcanic eruptions or maybe a mix of the two.

    By