All Stories
- Life
Baby starfish on the hunt whip up whirlpools
Starfish larvae use hairlike cilia to stir up water whorls and suck prey in close.
- Astronomy
These 2016 stories could be really big — if they’re true
These findings would have rocked the scientific world, if only the evidence were more convincing.
- Animals
World’s largest reindeer population may fall victim to climate change
Climate change and wolves are driving down the reindeer population in Russia’s Taimyr population.
- Math
Hidden Figures highlights three black women who were vital to the U.S. space program
"Hidden Figures" tells the untold story of the "human computers" who were essential to the launch of the U.S. space program.
- Health & Medicine
Ebola vaccine proves effective
The Ebola vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV proved effective at stopping the spread of the virus in a clinical trial in West Africa.
- Health & Medicine
Ebola vaccine proves effective, final trial results show
The Ebola vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV proved effective at stopping the spread of the virus in a clinical trial in West Africa.
- Ecosystems
Long-ignored, high-flying arthropods could make up largest land migrations
Forget birds. 3.5 trillion insects, spiders and mites a year fly over the southern United Kingdom.
- Life
Ancient enzymes adapted to a cooler Earth to keep life’s chemical reactions going
Ancient enzymes kept their speed at lower temperatures.
- Neuroscience
How scientists are hunting for a safer opioid painkiller
Scientists are sorting through chemical structures, twisting and turning known drugs and exploring new ways to ease pain.
- Animals
Tales of creatures large and small made news this year
Scientists filled in the details of some famous evolutionary tales in 2016 — and discovered a few surprises about creatures large and small.
- Health & Medicine
New blood tests can detect prions
Blood tests may detect prion disease in people even before onset of symptoms.
- Life
Force-detecting protein senses when lungs fill with air
A study in mice pinpoints a force-detecting protein that regulates breathing, previously implicated in touch.
