Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Chemistry
Missing link in taste chain identified
Taste-cell protein sends message to brain that tongue has detected sweet, bitter or umami flavor.
- Life
Camel ancestors lived in the Arctic
Fossils on Ellesmere Island suggest famous desert dweller got its start in cold regions.
- Animals
Native pollinators boost crop yields worldwide
Farms with crops from coffee to mangoes don’t get the best yields if they rely solely on honeybees.
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- Life
Impact craters may have been a toasty home for early life
The heat generated during a cosmic crash could have nurtured ancient organisms.
- Neuroscience
Tadpoles with eyes in their tails see the light
Transplanted eyes in the creature’s tail can distinguish between red and blue.
- Life
Scientists race to understand deadly new virus
Emerging virus causes severe illness, but doesn’t spread as quickly as SARS.
- Animals
How weaver ants get a grip
Strong sticking power and quick reaction time help the insects stay put in trees.
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- Life
Insulin levels wax and wane daily
Modern life may clash with the hormone’s natural cycle, new mouse research suggests.
- Life
Bees learn the electric buzz of flowers
Floral electric fields could join color and fragrance as cues to pollinators.
- Life
Chill turns monarchs north
Temperature manipulation appears to solve mystery of what triggers migratory butterflies’ homeward trip.
