Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Oceans
Magnetism from underwater power cables doesn’t deter sea life
High-voltage power cables that ferry electricity across the seafloor do not negatively impact local fish and crabs, new studies show.
- Oceans
Protected coral reefs may not be the ones that need protection
A new study finds that more than half of the world’s coral reefs site within a half-hour of a human settlement. But those that are protected tend to be far away.
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- Animals
Tiger protection in Thailand produces results
Despite good efforts, the goal of doubling the global tiger population by 2022 looks impossible.
- Earth
Readers respond to blue tarantulas, multiparticles and white outs
Readers respond to the January 9, 2016 issue of Science News with thoughts on blue tarantulas, multiparticles, and avalanches.
- Genetics
‘Selfish’ DNA flouts rules of inheritance
R2d2 is selfish DNA that could skew scientists’ views of adaptation and evolution.
- Animals
Rock ant decisions swayed by six-legged social media
When rock ants start influencing each other with one-on-one social contact, a colony’s collective decisions can change.
- Oceans
Corals need to take their vitamin C
Newly settled corals use vitamin C to help build their stony skeletons, researchers propose.
- Neuroscience
Brain cells aglow after viral delivery
The virus AAV-PHP.B proves best at delivering genes to brain cells in mice. Similar viruses may eventually be used for gene therapy in humans.
- Animals
Invasive toads will probably overrun Madagascar
A new report finds that eradicating invasive Asian toads before they overtake all of Madagascar is “not currently feasible.”
- Paleontology
Surprise! Ancient armadillos are related to modern armadillos
DNA evidence proves that ancient glyptodonts are indeed related to today’s armadillos, as Charles Darwin suspected.
- Genetics
Prion disease gets personal
Diagnosis of a brain-wasting disease drove a married couple into science.
