Life

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Life

    Genes & Cells

    A family without fingerprints and the long-term harm of sleep skimping in this week’s news.

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  2. Life

    Life

    Ancient Big Bird, a new marine species and more in this week's news.

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  3. Life

    Early stress is contagious in adulthood

    A zebra finch’s tough childhood shortens both its life and its mate’s.

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  4. Life

    Parkinson’s protein comes in fours

    A better understanding of alpha-synuclein's structure could lead to ways of treating or preventing the disease.

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  5. Humans

    Big fish return to Mexican marine park

    Most effects of overharvesting reversed within a decade.

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  6. Life

    Plants and fungi recognize generous trading partners

    Rewards — and consequences — stabilize underground biological market in mutualistic relationships.

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  7. Life

    Paper wasps help out for their own good

    Behavior that appears altruistic actually benefits number one.

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  8. Paleontology

    Sea monsters made great mothers

    Fossilized plesiosaur with fetus suggests ancient reptiles cared for their young.

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  9. Chemistry

    Meteorites contain chemicals linked to life

    Space rocks could have delivered DNA building blocks to Earth.

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  10. Life

    Rare gene variants linked to ADHD

    Missing or added genes cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other disorders, such as autism.

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  11. Life

    Common virus may ride up nose to brain

    Almost everyone is infected, but in some people a widespread herpes bug appears to reach the central nervous system by an olfactory route.

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  12. Life

    Bacteria binged on BP oil but didn’t grow

    Researchers suspect the spilled crude didn’t provide a balanced diet.

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