Feature

  1. Animals

    Year in review: New dates, place proposed for dogs’ beginnings

    This year’s dog research suggested older origins and a new location of domestication for man's best friend.

    By Chris Samoray
  2. Humans

    Year in review: Native Americans are Kennewick kin

    Ancient DNA identified 8,500-year-old Kennewick Man as a Native American relative.

    By Bruce Bower
  3. Genetics

    Year in review: Fluke extinction surprises lab

    A die-off of bacteria in a carefully controlled lab experiment offered an evolutionary lesson this year: Survival depends not only on fitness but also on luck.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  4. Neuroscience

    Year in review: Gaps in brain nets might store memories

    Holes in nets that surround nerve cells may store long-term memories, scientists proposed this year.

    By Laura Sanders
  5. Math

    Year in review: New algorithm quickly spots identical networks

    In what may be a once-in-a-decade advance, a computer scientist claimed to have devised an algorithm that efficiently solves the notorious graph isomorphism problem.

    By Andrew Grant
  6. Health & Medicine

    Year in review: Ebola vaccines on the way

    After more than a year of furiously developing and testing potential Ebola vaccines, two candidates have risen to the top and may soon be available for use.

    By Meghan Rosen
  7. Genetics

    Gene drives spread their wings

    Gene drives may wipe out malaria and take down invasive species. But they may be difficult to control.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  8. Genetics

    Can DNA predict a face?

    DNA-based facial sketches are moving into the crime-solving arena. With current science, predictions of some features are better than others.

    By Meghan Rosen
  9. Animals

    Getting creative to cut methane from cows

    Changing feed, giving vaccines and selective breeding may enable scientists to help beef and dairy cattle shake their title as one of society's worst methane producers.

    By Laura Beil
  10. Neuroscience

    Viva vagus: Wandering nerve could lead to range of therapies

    Researchers are testing ways to stimulate the vagus nerve to treat a slew of ailments.

    By Sarah Schwartz
  11. Neuroscience

    Blood exerts a powerful influence on the brain

    Instead of just responding to the energy needs of neurons, the blood can have a direct and powerful influence on the brain.

    By Laura Sanders
  12. Earth

    New fascination with Earth’s ‘Boring Billion’

    The Mesoproterozoic era, known as the boring billion, had very low oxygen, but it set the stage for the evolution of animals.

    By Thomas Sumner