Life

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Neuroscience

    Cocaine addicts can’t kick other habits either

    Habitual users tend to get stuck in nondrug-related habits more easily, too, pointing to a potential strategy for treatment

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  2. Neuroscience

    Properly timed exercise aids memory

    Well-timed exercise strengthens memories.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Stem cells from pig fat aid in growing new bone

    Scientists transform fat stem cells into bone and grow new jaws for minipigs.

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  4. Astronomy

    Molecular handedness found in space

    Propylene oxide in an interstellar cloud sets up a testing ground for understanding why life chooses one type of mirror-image molecule over another.

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  5. Animals

    City living shortens great tits’ telomeres

    Great tits raised in urban nests have shorter protective caps on their chromosomes than those raised in rural nests.

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  6. Animals

    City living shortens great tits’ telomeres

    Great tits raised in urban nests have shorter protective caps on their chromosomes than those raised in rural nests.

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  7. Life

    Vaccines may offer defense against dengue, Zika and chikungunya

    Mosquitoes carry several harmful viruses—dengue, Zika, chikungunya. Vaccines may be the best means of defense.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    WHO: Very little risk that Brazil’s Olympics will speed Zika’s spread

    Olympics not likely to hasten international spread of Zika virus, according to WHO analysis that includes data from previous mass gatherings.

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  9. Animals

    Lemurs sing in sync — until one tries to go solo

    Indris, a lemur species in Madagascar, sing in synchrony and match rhythm, except for young males trying to stand out.

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  10. Animals

    ‘Kermit Sutra’ gets seventh amphibian mating position

    Bombay night frogs’ unusual mating protocol features indirect sperm transfer and female croaks.

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  11. Life

    Biologists seek help to ‘see’ itty-bitty molecules in 3-D

    A new citizen science project called Microscopy Masters aims to improve how scientists build three-dimensional models of proteins.

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  12. Animals

    ‘Silent Sparks’ illuminates fascinating world of fireflies

    In a new book, a firefly researcher explores why scientists and kids alike are captivated by lightning bugs.

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