Life

  1. Life

    These scientific discoveries set new records in 2023

    This year’s record-breaking findings shed new light on human history and the most amazing feats in the animal kingdom.

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  2. Animals

    50 years ago, the U.S. Navy enlisted sea lions and other marine mammals

    Today, dolphins and sea lions in the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program protect harbors and participate in research on animal health and well-being.

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  3. Animals

    These are our favorite animal stories of 2023

    Spiders that make prey walk the plank, self-aware fish and a pouty T. rex are among the critters that enchanted the Science News staff.

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  4. Animals

    Here’s how spiders that go overboard use light to find land

    When elongate stilt spiders fall into water, they head for areas that don’t reflect light in the hope of finding dry land, experiments suggest.

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  5. Math

    Here are some astounding scientific firsts of 2023

    Notable feats include discovering a planet-eating star, extracting RNA from an extinct animal and more.

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  6. Animals

    Here are 5 questions about the mystery dog illness making news

    Experts suspect a perfect storm of conditions, rather than a new bug, is what’s driving “atypical kennel cough” cases in dogs across the United States.

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  7. Animals

    When do cats play fetch? When they feel like it 

    Most cats that play fetch picked it up on their own, a study of cat owners suggests. The felines tend to dictate when a fetching session begins and ends.

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  8. Animals

    A new species of hedgehog stands out for its short spikes

    At first, the eastern forest hedgehog was mistaken for its cousin. Dental and DNA analyses eventually confirmed the critter is a species new to science.

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  9. Animals

    Why do some lizards and snakes have horns?

    These reptiles’ horns can be an asset or a liability. A new study looks at the evolutionary roots of this wild headgear.

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  10. Environment

    Landscape Explorer shows how much the American West has changed

    The online tool stitches together historical images into a map that’s helping land managers make decisions about preservation and restoration.

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  11. Neuroscience

    Electrical brain implants may help patients with severe brain injuries

    After deep brain stimulation, five patients with severe brain injuries improved their scores on a test of cognitive function.

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  12. Animals

    Fish beware: Bottlenosed dolphins may be able to pick up your heartbeat

    Fish, sharks and platypuses are adept at sensing electrical signals living things give off. Bottlenosed dolphins make that list too, studies suggests.

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