News

Animals

Wolf vs. Raven? Thieving birds may drive canines to form big packs

A previously underappreciated reason why wolf packs get so big could be the relentless food snitching of ravens.

Ecosystems

Coastal Surge: Ecosystems likely to suffer as more people move to the shores

Rapid development and population growth on and near U.S. coastlines in the near future will probably spell trouble for ecosystems in these areas, scientists say.

Health & Medicine

Surgical Option: Hysterectomy may top drugs for women with heavy bleeding

Women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding and fail to improve on a hormone-based drug fare better if they choose hysterectomy rather than a regimen of other drugs.

Tech

Miniaturized 3-D Printing: New polymer ink writes tiny structures

A new 3-D printer can build up complex polymer microstructures with features small enough for creating photonic crystals or scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Planetary Science

Signs of Water Flow: Oceans of data point to ancient Martian sea

A robotic rover on Mars has found strong evidence that some rocks near the Martian equator were laid down by a shallow, ancient ocean, indicating one of the most likely places to look for remains of life on the Red Planet.

Anthropology

Evolution’s Lost Bite: Gene change tied to ancestral brain gains

In a controversial new report, a research team proposes that an inactivating gene mutation unique to people emerged around 2.4 million years ago and, by decreasing the size of jaw muscles, set the stage for brain expansion in our direct ancestors.

Archaeology

Reconstructing ancient drinking habits

A new technique involving the analysis of residue from pottery jars can discern the color of wine consumed by ancient Egyptians.

Physics

Quantum link connects light, ions

By proving experimentally for the first time that an atom and a photon can become entwined in a quantum embrace called entanglement, physicists took a step toward teleporting quantum characteristics from one atom to another.

Health & Medicine

Bug bites suggest new stroke drug

Changing a human enzyme so that it resembles one from blood-sucking insects may lead to a new treatment for strokes.

Astronomy

Andromeda’s building blocks

A radio telescope has made the first conclusive observations of gas clouds that could be the leftover building blocks of the Andromeda galaxy, the Milky Way’s closest large spiral neighbor.