Life
Sign up for our newsletter
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
-
LifeInflammation feeds E. coli
Inflammation, normally a defense against microbes, may become counterproductive in the gut by feeding disease-causing bacteria.
-
Science & SocietyNo New Meds
With drug firms in retreat, the pipeline for new psychiatric medications dries up.
-
AnimalsMole sniffs the world in stereo
Nostrils of the common mole recognize slight differences in smells to steer it toward its food.
-
OceansLife found deep below Antarctic ice
Lake buried under 800 meters of ice hosts cells, researchers find.
By Janet Raloff -
LifeNerve stem cells treat gut disorder in mice
Nerve stem cell therapy treats gut disorder by connecting to nervous system.
-
LifeAs fish watch prey, researchers watch fish’s brains
Genetically engineered neurons allow researchers to watch fish brains as they track prey.
-
LifePigeons’ prominent plumage traces to one gene
A mutation responsible for ruffs, crests and collars appears to have arisen once and then passed among species through breeding.
-
AnimalsCats kill more than one billion birds each year
New analysis doubles estimate of avian death tolls, revealing that hunting felines take bigger bite out of wildlife than expected.
By Susan Milius -
LifeGene variant makes flu particularly dangerous
People with one form of IFITM3 are more likely to develop pneumonia.
-
LifeCaribbean’s coral reefs approach tipping point
A survey of 19 colonies suggests many may soon begin to shrink.
-
LifeChimps’ baby teeth don’t predict weaning
The age at which a chimpanzee gets its first molar tooth doesn't predict when it will stop nursing.
By Erin Wayman -
HumansU.S. team breaks through subglacial lake
Testing should continue for a day or more, probing for life in the Antarctic depths.
By Janet Raloff