Life

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Life

    Prion protein is not all bad

    The molecule’s real job may be to maintain myelin around nerves.

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  2. Paleontology

    Dinosaurs died of rickets

    After more than 80 years, a theory that too little vitamin D led to the demise of the dinos still awaits a shred of evidence.

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  3. Life

    Weevils evolved nut-and-screw joint

    Insects invented hardware way back in dinosaur days.

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  4. Life

    Life

    The perils of insect enslavement, bats’ hairy flight and crustacean-inspired optics in this week’s news.

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  5. Life

    Alzheimer’s plaques due to purging flaw

    A gene controls the clearance of a protein that accumulates in the brains of people with the condition.

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  6. Animals

    Lionfish no match for big groupers

    Despite its invasive success, the lionfish can't withstand grouper appetites.

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  7. Life

    Tasmanian devil genomes offer some hope, few answers

    While clues to combating the infectious cancer that's threatening the species remain elusive, the completion of two genetic blueprints reveals a low but stable genetic diversity.

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  8. Life

    New gene therapy fixes mistakes

    For the first time scientists have repaired a damaged gene in a living mouse.

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  9. Life

    Genes & Cells

    Self-sufficient pancreatic cells, tingly spinal cells and vitamin D for gum disease in this week’s news.

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  10. Life

    Blue light used to treat diabetes

    Illumination triggers control of blood sugar in mice implanted with engineered human cells.

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  11. Life

    From Z’s to A’s

    Two new studies show sleep is crucial to learning.

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  12. Paleontology

    Big dinosaurs kept their cool

    Body temperature of long-gone beasts resembled that of mammals, study of fossil teeth suggests.

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