Life

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Animals

    Oysters may struggle to build shells as carbon dioxide rises

    Ocean acidification could hamper larvae's growth.

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  2. Animals

    Butterflies’ tidy drinking tricks

    The long tube of the insects' mouthparts is fluid friendly only at the tip.

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  3. Life

    Leprosy bacterium changed little in last millennium

    Genome alterations probably not responsible for decline in disease prevalence.

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  4. Life

    Primitive fish could nod but not shake its head

    Ancient fossils reveal surprises about early vertebrate necks, abdominal muscles.

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  5. Animals

    In the Eye of the Tiger

    Global spread of Asian tiger mosquito could fuel outbreaks of tropical disease in temperate regions.

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  6. Life

    In the real world, cheetahs rarely go all out

    Famous for speed, the big cats actually rely on acceleration and maneuverability to capture prey.

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  7. Life

    Nail-generating tissue also regrows fingertips

    Stem cells spur return of amputated digits in mice

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  8. Animals

    Now-extinct wolf may be ancestor of modern-day dogs

    No strong signs of canine ancestry among living grey wolves.

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  9. Life

    As Brood II emerges, questions remain about cicada cycles

    The how and why of years lived underground are among the unsolved mysteries about the loud, obvious insects.

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  10. Neuroscience

    Research prods brain wiring underlying compulsive behavior

    Complementary studies, focusing on repetitive grooming in mice, offer potential for new treatment strategies in humans.

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  11. Animals

    Lyrebirds dance to their own music

    In mating display, male birds match moves to songs.

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  12. Life

    Bird penises start strong, wither away

    Male chickens lose phalluses before hatching.

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