News in Brief
- Health & Medicine
Pregnancy hormone could keep multiple sclerosis at bay
A small trial hints that pregnancy hormone can reduce MS flare-ups.
- Astronomy
Mysterious cosmic signals carry a clue to their origins
A burst of radio waves from another galaxy ran into a dense magnetized plasma while en route to Earth, hinting at an origin near a population of young stars.
- Health & Medicine
Taking antiviral drug ‘on demand’ can guard against HIV
The antiviral drug Truvada taken before and after sex cuts HIV transmission rates.
- Animals
Snakes evolved from burrowing ancestor, new data suggest
A new X-ray analysis of inner ears is the latest to weigh in on whether modern snakes descended from a burrowing or a swimming reptile.
- Astronomy
More mysterious extragalactic signals detected
Five more fast radio bursts from other galaxies have shown up and one of them is a double.
- Life
DNA doubled in conifer ancestors
The genomes of conifers — pine, cypress and yew trees — doubled twice in the distant past.
- Neuroscience
Taste is all in your head
By targeting certain nerve cells in a mouse’s brain, scientists made plain water turn bitter or sweet.
- Planetary Science
Phobos to create ring around the Red Planet
Mars’ moon Phobos will shatter and create a temporary ring around Mars 20 million to 40 million years from now.
- Tech
Roses rigged with electrical circuits
Bioelectric molecules can form wires and conduct electricity in cut roses, researchers find.
- Planetary Science
Glimpse of baby planet shows what to expect when a star is expecting
A baby planet is still growing in the disk of gas that encircles a young star.
- Plants
Ancient gardeners saved the gourd
Domestication might have helped early vine plants like pumpkin survive after seed-dispersing megafauna went extinct.
- Health & Medicine
Study brews up more evidence for coffee’s health benefits
Drinking up to five cups of coffee a day reduced the risk of dying early from heart and brain diseases and suicide.
