News
- Physics
Particles defy gravity, float upstream
Inspired by tea leaves’ reverse route into a kettle, physicists demonstrate that water’s surface tension allows unexpected movement.
By Andrew Grant - Animals
Gut microbes may put barrier between species
Wiping out gut bacteria in wasps saves crossbred offspring from death, suggesting that microbes may play a role in speciation.
By Susan Milius - Animals
Honeybees use right antennae to tell friend from foe
Asymmetry in sense of smell alters insects' behavior in lab tests.
- Earth
Faults can reseal months after quakes
Measurements in southern China find quick healing of fractured rock.
By Erin Wayman - Science & Society
Math targets cities’ essence
New formula relates city size to infrastructure, productivity.
- Tech
Twisted light transmits more data
Spiral beams allow multiple information streams in one cable.
By Andrew Grant - Life
Ancient horse’s DNA fills in picture of equine evolution
An entire genome compiled from a 700,000-year-old bone yields new information about equine history.
- Animals
Lemurs’ group size predicts social intelligence
Primates that live with many others know not to steal food when someone is watching.
- Humans
Hard throwers evolved a long time ago
Baseball hurlers provide clues to the ancient roots of bodies that can heave objects really fast.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Paralyzed rats relearn to pee
Bladder control restored for the first time in animals with stark spinal cord damage.
By Meghan Rosen - Earth
Cleaner air may have brought more storms
Pollution during the 20th century appears to have suppressed North Atlantic hurricanes.
- Particle Physics
First four-quark particle may have been spotted
If confirmed, the tetraquark could shed light on how atomic nuclei are held together.
By Andrew Grant