Feature

  1. Venom hunters

    Scientists probe toxins, revealing the healing powers of biochemical weapons.

    By Laura Sanders

  2. When Humor Humiliates

    For gelotophobes, even good-natured laughter can sound a lot like ridicule.

    By Susan Gaidos

  3. The Biofuel Future

    Scientists seek ways to make green energy pay off.

    By Rachel Ehrenberg
  4. Astronomy

    The Star That Ate a Mars

    COVER STORY: Scientists probe debris trapped by white dwarfs to learn more about what faraway Earthlike planets are made of.

    By Charles Petit
  5. Health & Medicine

    You Are Who You Are by Default

    A neural network active when the brain is at rest may prove critical to zoning out, a sense of self and envisioning the future.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  6. Health & Medicine

    Bad Breath

    New studies detail how the invisible particles that pollute the air can damage heart, lungs and genetic programming.

    By Janet Raloff
  7. Climate

    Fire

    Understanding long-term changes in wildfire patterns challenges scientists from multiple disciplines.

    By Solmaz Barazesh
  8. Physics

    Microswimmers make a splash

    Researchers study secrets of microbes' locomotion and how to mimic that movement.

    By Laura Sanders
  9. Humans

    Seeking genetic fate

    Personal genomics companies offer forecasts of disease risk, but the science behind the packaging is still evolving.

    By Patrick Barry

  10. The iron record of Earth’s oxygen

    Scientists are decoding the geological secrets of banded iron formations.

    By Sid Perkins

  11. No brainer behavior

    Messages, memory, maybe even intelligence — botanists wrangle over how far plants can go.

    By Susan Milius

  12. Think like a scientist

    A class of curious sixth-graders arguing over moist, mucky jars may represent the future of science education.

    By Bruce Bower