Life

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Earth

    Coastal waters were an oxygen oasis 2.3 billion years ago

    Coastal waters contained enough oxygen to support complex life-forms including some animals hundreds of millions of years before fossils of such life first appear.

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  2. Life

    Here’s how earwax might clean ears

    Science seeks inspiration in earwax for dreams of self-cleaning machinery.

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  3. Neuroscience

    How mice use their brain to hunt

    Messages from the brain’s amygdala help mice chase and kill prey.

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  4. Life

    Shimmering soap bubbles have a dark side

    Merging dark spots are indicators that a bubble is about to burst.

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  5. Animals

    It takes guts for a sea spider to pump blood

    Most sea spiders have hearts, but what really gets their blood flowing are gut contractions.

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  6. Neuroscience

    Pain promoter also acts as pain reliever

    A pain-sensing protein also regulates activity of pain-relieving opioids.

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  7. Paleontology

    Ancient oddball invertebrate finds its place on the tree of life

    Ancient marine invertebrates called hyoliths may be more closely related to modern horseshoe worms than mollusks, a fossil analysis finds.

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  8. Paleontology

    Readers weigh in on dinos, dark matter and more

    Ancient bird calls, the search for dark matter and more in reader feedback.

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  9. Animals

    ‘Furry Logic’ showcases how animals exploit physics

    "Furry Logic" explores how animals rely on the laws of physics in pursuit of food, sex and survival.

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  10. Animals

    Unusually loose skin helps hagfish survive shark attacks

    Hagfish skin that easily slips and slides can be a lifesaver in crises such as shark attacks.

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  11. Plants

    Meat-eating pitcher plants raise deathtraps to an art

    The carnivorous California pitcher plant ensnares its dinner using a medley of techniques.

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  12. Neuroscience

    Facial-processing area of brain keeps growing throughout childhood

    Contrary to scientists’ expectations, a facial-processing area of the brain grows new tissue during childhood, an MRI study suggests.

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