Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Genetics
Evolution caught red-handed
Scientists have named a new gene on the fruit fly Y chromosome “flagrante delicto Y.”
- Ecosystems
Patrolling bats protect corn fields from pests
Bats play a key role in protecting corn from pests and fungus.
- Animals
Shipwreck provides window into Tudor-era cod fishing
In the 1500s, England was feeding its navy with fish caught far from home, a new study finds.
- Animals
Loss of vision meant energy savings for cavefish
Novel measurement feeds idea that tight energy budgets favored vision loss in cavefish.
- Genetics
Bad Karma can ruin palm oil crops
Missing epigenetic mark makes for Bad Karma and poor palm oil crops.
- Animals
How a seahorse dad is like a pregnant woman
Live birth has evolved at least 150 times in vertebrates, including in seahorses and humans. And there are some surprising similarities between the species.
- Health & Medicine
Less vitamin D and melatonin bad for multiple sclerosis
Vitamin D and melatonin play important roles in multiple sclerosis.
- Life
Humans adjust walking style for energy efficiency
Humans can adjust their steps to walk in a way that uses the least amount of energy.
- Animals
Invading Argentine ants carry virus that attacks bees
The first survey of viruses in the globally invasive Argentine ant brings both potentially bad and good news.
- Animals
Invading Argentine ant hordes carry a virus that attacks bees
Invasive Argentine ants may be reservoirs for a virus menacing honeybees — and for previously unknown virus.
- Earth
Earth’s magnetic mystery forces scientists to get creative
In explaining the Earth’s magnetic field paradox, scientists may discover a new question with an even more interesting answer.
- Anthropology
Immortality and more in reader feedback
This week in reader feedback: Immortality and tracing ancient humans.
