All Stories
- Science & Society
A new map exhibit documents evolving views of Earth’s interior
"Beneath Our Feet" puts maps on display to show how people have envisioned and explored Earth’s subsurface.
- Astronomy
The Arecibo Observatory will remain open, NSF says
The iconic Arecibo radio telescope has survived Hurricane Maria and dodged deep funding cuts.
- Archaeology
Skeletons could provide clues to who wrote or protected the Dead Sea Scrolls
Skeletons suggest a group of celibate men inhabited Dead Sea Scrolls site.
- Animals
The key to breaking down plastic may be in caterpillars’ guts
Caterpillars that feast on plastic have different gut microbes than those that eat a grain-based diet.
- Animals
Fluorescence could help diagnose sick corals
Diseased corals fluoresce less than healthy corals, and a new analysis technique can help spot the reduced glow.
- Genetics
Current CRISPR gene drives are too strong for outdoor use, studies warn
Self-limiting genetic tools already in development may be able to get around concerns surrounding the use of gene drives.
- Particle Physics
Excess antielectrons aren’t from nearby dead stars, study says
Pulsars might not be behind excess antimatter, gamma-ray observations suggest.
- Physics
Colliding black holes are reported for a fifth time
LIGO spots another merger, this time with less fanfare.
- Tech
50 years ago, artificial limbs weren’t nearly as responsive
Artificial limbs have come a long way since 1967.
- Neuroscience
Study casts doubt on whether adult brain’s memory-forming region makes new cells
An examination of 54 human brains suggests that adults don’t grow new neurons in the hippocampus, contrary to several widely accepted studies.
- Health & Medicine
How dad’s stress changes his sperm
Stress may change sperm via packets of RNA in the epididymis, a mouse study suggests.
- Neuroscience
The brain’s helper cells have a hand in learning fear
After a traumatic experience, rat brains release inflammatory signals that come from astrocytes, suggesting a new role for the brain’s “helper” cells.
