Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Neuroscience
Birth of new brain cells might erase babies’ memories
The growth of new neurons in early childhood may explain why adults can’t remember being infants.
- Paleontology
Oldest true dolphin species gets a new name
A dolphin species first described in the 1970s has gotten a new name but still retains the title of oldest true dolphin species identified to date.
- Animals
Everyday electronics may upset birds’ compass
Weak electromagnetic waves, coming from normal university activities, interfere with European robins’ migratory orientation.
- Life
New bird flu found in Antarctic penguins
Designated H11N2, the virus was found in less than 3 percent of the 301 Adélie penguins tested and the infection is asymptomatic.
- Genetics
Organism with artificial DNA alphabet makes its debut
Using DNA molecules other than A, C, G and T, scientists have created the first living organism with an expanded genetic alphabet.
- Psychology
Why every face you draw looks a little Neandertal
Just about everyone draws faces with the eyes too high and a low Neandertal forehead, maybe because of the way we perceive the shape of the head.
- Paleontology
Dinosaurs could take tough breaks
Meat-eating dinosaurs may have survived some extremely bad bone breaks, according to detailed chemical maps of the fossils.
- Animals
Woodpecker beaks divulge shock-absorbing properties
Scales, sutures and porosity help the birds hammer without going stupid.
- Animals
What animal is the world’s best rock climber?
Lots of animals manage to scale vertical heights, and each has their own way of accomplishing the feat.
- Neuroscience
Young blood proven good for old brain
Blood — or one of its protein components — restores some of youth’s vibrancy to elderly mouse brains.
- Animals
Narwhal has the strangest tooth in the sea
Sometimes called the unicorn of the sea, the male narwhal’s tusk is actually a tooth. Narwhals detect changes in water salinity using only these tusks, a new study finds.
- Animals
How to milk a naked mole-rat
For the sake of science, Olav Oftedal has milked bats, bears and a lot of other mammals. But a naked mole-rat was something new.
