News

Life

Immune cells play surprising role in steady heartbeat

Immune system cells called macrophages help heart cells rhythmically contract, maintaining the beat of mice’s hearts.

Climate

Plot twist in methane mystery blames chemistry, not emissions, for recent rise

The recent rise in atmospheric methane concentrations may have been caused by changes in atmospheric chemistry, not increased emissions from human activities, two new studies suggest.

Neuroscience

Brain gains seen in elderly mice injected with human umbilical cord plasma

Plasma from human umbilical cord blood refreshes aspects of learning and memory in mice.

Health & Medicine

Autism, ADHD risk not linked to prenatal exposure to antidepressants

Taking antidepressants during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, two new large studies suggest.

Archaeology

Shock-absorbing spear points kept early North Americans on the hunt

Ancient Americans invented a way to make spear points last on an unfamiliar continent.

Oceans

More than one ocean motion determines tsunami size

The horizontal movement of the seafloor during an earthquake can boost the size of the resulting tsunami, researchers propose.

Planetary Science

Food for microbes found on Enceladus

The underground ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus harbors an abundance of molecular hydrogen, which could be an important source of food if microbial life exists there.

Chemistry

New tech harvests drinking water from (relatively) dry air using only sunlight

A prototype device harvests moisture from dry air and separates it into drinkable water using only sunlight.

Animals

Young eels use magnetic ‘sixth sense’ to navigate

Migrating eels use Earth’s magnetic field.

Health & Medicine

Rules restricting artificial trans fats are good for heart health

Taking artificial trans fats off the menu reduces hospitalizations for heart attack and stroke.

Genetics

Gene knockouts in people provide drug safety, effectiveness clues

People naturally lacking certain genes give clues about drug safety and efficacy, a study in Pakistanis shows.

Planetary Science

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot has company. Meet the Great Cold Spot

A previously unidentified dark mark on Jupiter has been dubbed the “Great Cold Spot” because of its temperature and resemblance to the planet’s Great Red Spot.