Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Genetics
U.K. first to approve gene editing of human embryos for research
The United Kingdom is the first government to approve gene editing in human embryos for research purposes.
- Climate
Phytoplankton rapidly disappearing from the Indian Ocean
Phytoplankton populations in the Indian Ocean fell 30 percent over the last 16 years largely due to global warming, new research suggests.
- Microbes
Random changes in behavior speed bacteria evolution
Microbes can speed up evolution by changing phenotypes.
- Animals
Behavior, body size impact bats’ fight against white-nose syndrome
Behavioral and physical traits buffer some bats against white-nose syndrome while leaving others vulnerable.
- Neuroscience
Immune system gene leads to schizophrenia clue
Excessive snipping of nerve cell connections may contribute to schizophrenia.
- Genetics
Readers question gene-drive engineered mosquitoes and their predators
Readers discuss the effects of gene-drive engineered mosquitoes and muse on their science bucket list.
- Science & Society
Powerful rhetoric can overlook important details
Our Editor in Chief discusses the potential hazards of broad generalizations, specifically when it comes to genetically modified foods and abundant energy.
- Genetics
GMOs haven’t delivered on their promises — or risks
Genetically modified foods have been studied extensively and are abundant on supermarket shelves, but they haven’t managed to end world hunger yet.
- Animals
Skin color changes reveal octopus drama
Shallow-water octopuses use changes in skin color to communicate aggression to their peers, study suggests.
- Animals
Feral dogs take a bite out of Andean wildlife
A survey of a remote park in Ecuador finds feral dogs are a problem for many species of native mammals.
- Genetics
Mice can be male without Y chromosome
Researchers bypass the Y chromosome to make male mice.
- Animals
Devils Hole pupfish may not have been so isolated for so long
New genetic study questions Devils Hole pupfish’s supposed history of long isolation.
