Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Animals
A gory 12 days of Christmas
Insects and spiders are among the biggest gift-givers, often as part of mating, and anything from cyanide to a wad of saliva can be a present.
- Genetics
You are what your dad ate, perhaps
Your development is affected by what your mother ate while she was pregnant with you. Is it also affected by what your father ate? A new study suggests that folate deficiency in dads can affect their offspring through epigenetic changes.
- Animals
Before a fight, chameleons engage in colorful communication
Before one chameleon rumbles with another, he’ll display his side and change his stripes, indicating his willingness to fight.
- Microbes
Virus-thwarting mosquitoes decline on Vietnamese island
Scientists plan to release second generation of mosquitoes that stop the spread of dengue fever.
- Microbes
Bacteria turn threatening in tests with immune cells
In less than 30 days, nonthreatening E. coli can transform into dangerous microbes in mice.
- Animals
Bedbugs survive cold, but not for too long
Some studies have indicated that cold might kill bedbugs after as little as one hour of exposure. But new research finds that’s not the case.
- Neuroscience
Concussion-free head blows may still affect brain
Some college athletes who played contact sports had more changes in their brain’s white matter than varsity competitors in less violent games.
- Life
Animal origins shift to comb jellies
Genetic data confirm the marine predators have more ancient origin than simpler sponges.
- Paleontology
Fleshy comb is first found on a dinosaur
A fossil head has both a duck bill and a soft-tissue crest, scientists suggest.
- Animals
Lizard breath has surprising birdlike flow
Decades of assumptions may be wrong about the evolution of reptile lungs.
- Life
Dietary changes affect gut microbes within a day
Menu restricted to meat, egg and cheese alters bacterial mix more than eating only plants.
- Animals
Leaping land fish avoids predators by blending in
The Pacific leaping blenny avoids being eaten by predators by blending into its rocky habitat.
