Life
Sign up for our newsletter
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
-
LifeDNA tweak no good for diabetics
A genetic variation that increases levels of a blood-building protein also ups the risk of developing complications from diabetes.
-
LifeCoral keeps it in the family
The nutrients released during mass coral spawning feed the whole ecosystem.
By Tia Ghose -
-
AnimalsTwee Twee Tweetle
Bird brains have a separate pathway for the babbling nonsense of baby talk.
By Susan Milius -
AnimalsSexy side of UV-B
The first evidence of ultraviolet-B courtship in animals comes from jumping spiders.
By Susan Milius -
LifeBring out your dead cells
A protein called Six-Microns-Under turns certain fruit fly brain cells into undertakers to clear away dead neighbors.
-
LifeLeaf clippings as protein factories
Using plants to mass produce proteins for vaccines and other purposes may soon be possible without genetically engineering whole plants.
-
LifeBat that roared
Although the human ear can't detect it, bats make astonishingly loud noises while hunting.
By Susan Milius -
HumansBear deadline
Court calls for the already overdue decision on listing polar bears as a threatened species.
By Susan Milius -
EcosystemsBuilding Homes Where the Buffalo Roamed
A new study finds that being environmentally conscious is no guarantee you’ll put your home where you mouth is.
By Janet Raloff -
EcosystemsEight-legged bags of poison
Birds eating arachnids get high dose of toxic metal as mercury climbs up the food chain.
-
EcosystemsBeetle attack overturns forest carbon regime
Ravaged Canadian region switches from carbon sink to net carbon source.
By Susan Milius