News
- Earth
African dust once fertilized the Everglades
Humans aren't the only source of nutrients for Florida’s wetlands. African dust may have fertilized the region thousands of years ago.
By Beth Mole - Health & Medicine
Medicine Nobel goes to cellular transport research
Honor given to three scientists who discovered how machinery moves cargo around cells.
By Science News - Health & Medicine
Fractals can catch cancer
Analyzing shapes of cell borders may prove useful in cancer diagnosis.
By Sam Lemonick - Astronomy
Tiny sphere bends light like a black hole does
Previously seen at the megascale, gravitational lensing goes micro.
By Andrew Grant - Health & Medicine
Good bacteria from poop stop resistant infection
Pills fashioned from beneficial microbes in feces overcome C. difficile infections.
By Nathan Seppa - Life
Blocking a hormone helps mice beat lengthy jet lag
A timekeeping brain molecule steadies the beat of the circadian clock, while stopping it allows for a quick reset.
- Genetics
Cancer variants found in ‘neglected’ region of genome
Mutations outside of genes associated with disease in study using data from a thousand people.
- Neuroscience
Some grape-scented compounds repel mosquitoes
Molecules discovered to drive away bugs after researchers identify cells that detect, and are disgusted by, DEET.
- Anthropology
Ancient farming populations went boom, then bust
Agriculture’s introduction led to big falls as well as rises in numbers of Europeans.
By Bruce Bower - Microbes
Microbes signal deceased’s time of death
In a study using mice, germs accompany the body’s decay in a consistent time sequence.
- Climate
Humans found guilty in climate change
International panel’s confidence increases that society is responsible for global warming.
By Beth Mole - Planetary Science
Curiosity gets the dirt on Mars
The NASA rover completes an analysis of the first soil collected from Gale Crater.
By Beth Mole