Life

Sign up for our newsletter

We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Psychology

    In PTSD, a good night’s sleep means feeling safe

    Studies of PTSD in rats have usually focused on fear and trauma. But a new study in humans shows that learning about safety may be important as well.

    By
  2. Life

    Vagina bacteria make molecules that could be drugs

    Microbes on the human body are capable of producing thousands of small molecules that hold potential as drugs.

    By
  3. Microbes

    Vaccines and gut microbes join forces to fight flu

    Losing gut microbes weakens the protective ability of the flu vaccine in mice.

    By
  4. Neuroscience

    Our brains sort words as we sleep

    Even after nodding off, a person’s brain correctly sorts words into categories, adding to the achievements of the sleeping brain.

    By
  5. Paleontology

    Lost-and-found dinosaur thrived in water

    Fossils pieced together through ridiculous luck reveal Spinosaurus to be the only known dinosaur adapted for regular ventures into water.

    By
  6. Life

    Superslow sloths may have once evolved superfast

    Sloths may evolved some of the fastest rates of body growth reported to date for mammals.

    By
  7. Paleontology

    Fossils push back origins of modern mammals

    Fossils of three newly identified early mammals from China suggest that the common ancestor of today’s mammals lived over 200 million years ago.

    By
  8. Microbes

    Speedy test could improve treatment of urinary tract infections

    A new test for drug-resistant bacteria may speed the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections.

    By
  9. Animals

    Strong social bonds help lady baboons live longer

    Wild, female baboons with stronger social connections with both female and male baboons live longer than females with weaker ties, a new study shows.

    By
  10. Life

    North American bird update finds a little good news

    Conservation measures have succeeded in improving the plight of certain North American bird species, but overall the national report card says “needs improvement.”

    By
  11. Ecosystems

    Artifacts, fossils tell story of changes to Egypt’s animals

    Ancient Egyptian artifacts and fossils from the Nile Valley show a correlation between species extinctions and a growing human population in a drying climate.

    By
  12. Health & Medicine

    Viruses can zoom through workplaces in hours

    A virus on an office door handle can spread to more than half the people working there within a few hours.

    By