Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Neuroscience
Three ways of rejuvenating aging brains may work via the same protein
Three brain rejuvenation methods may exert their effects through the same molecule, at least partly, which could lead to therapies for cognitive decline.
- Health & Medicine
Mexican virologist Susana López Charretón uncovered rotaviruses’ secrets
Knowledge of the complex dance between virus and host cell has led to the development of life-saving vaccines.
- Neuroscience
Here’s what lucid dreamers might tell us about our sleeping minds
Lucid dreaming could prove to be a powerful tool for probing dreams, one of the most universal yet elusive human experiences.
- Climate
Emperor penguins lost thousands of chicks to melting ice last year
In 2022, groups of emperor penguins in western Antarctica lost almost all their chicks to receding sea ice, signaling the threat of climate change.
- Genetics
The Y chromosome’s genetic puzzle is finally complete
New analyses of the human Y chromosome reveal millions of new bases and different locations for the same gene in different people.
- Climate
Some leaves in tropical forests may be getting too hot for photosynthesis
Climate change may be forcing some tropical leaves to stop photosynthesis and die. It’s still unclear what effect this will have on entire forests.
- Life
Around 13,000 years ago, humans and fire changed LA’s ecosystem forever
Rapid drying combined with human-made fires changed Southern California forever, killing off ancient bison, dire wolves and five other megafauna species there.
- Genetics
A new look at Ötzi the Iceman’s DNA reveals new ancestry and other surprises
Ötzi had genetic variants for male-pattern baldness and dark skin, and he also had an unusual amount of early farmer ancestry, a new DNA analysis finds.
- Neuroscience
Neuroscientists decoded a Pink Floyd song using people’s brain activity
The technique could be used to improve devices that allow communication from people unable to speak.
- Animals
Macaques in Puerto Rico learned to share shade after Hurricane Maria
Animals that spent more time together on hot afternoons were less likely to die during the years following the storm, a new study finds.
- Life
Many frogs glow in blue light, and it may be a secret, eerie language
Biofluorescence is far more common across frog species than previously thought. The faint twilight glow could have a role in communication or mating.
- Paleontology
Meet the tiny ancient whale named after King Tut
The newly discovered Tutcetus rayanensis lived about 40 million years ago. It was just 2.5 meters long and weighed less than 200 kilograms.
