News

  1. Genetics

    Ancient boy’s DNA pushes back date of earliest humans

    Genes from South African fossils suggest humans emerged close to 300,000 years ago.

    By Bruce Bower
  2. Genetics

    A mutation may explain the sudden rise in birth defects from Zika

    A mutation in a protein that helps Zika exit cells may play a big role in microcephaly.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  3. Climate

    Tropical forests have flipped from sponges to sources of carbon dioxide

    Analyses of satellite images suggest that degraded forests now release more carbon than they store.

    By Carolyn Gramling
  4. Physics

    Trio of detectors tracks gravitational waves to their home

    LIGO and Virgo spot spacetime ripples in their first joint detection.