News
- Life
Starchy diet may have transformed wolves to dogs
Gaining the ability to digest carbohydrates may have been an important step in domesticating dogs.
- Tech
DNA stores poems, a photo and a speech
The molecule swaps its biological role for a computational one, that of long-term data storage.
- Earth
Watering fields in California boosts rainfall in Southwest
Irrigation has downstream effects on climate and runoff to Colorado River.
By Erin Wayman - Health & Medicine
Half of U.S. babies may miss on-time vaccinations
Immunization delays place children at risk of contracting preventable diseases.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
When hearing goes, mental capacity often follows
Cognitive decline may result from decreased social interaction or diversion of brainpower toward understanding speech.
- Space
Life has prospects on moons of giant extrasolar planets
Astronomers show how bodies orbiting distant Jupiters could be habitable.
By Andrew Grant - Tech
Trick of light makes microwave imaging simple
Metamaterials and math combine to produce a quick, cheap system.
- Health & Medicine
Flu shot during pregnancy is safe, but flu isn’t
Illness in the mother nearly doubles the risk of a miscarriage or stillbirth in second or third trimester, a new study shows.
By Nathan Seppa - Psychology
Depression gene search disappoints
A comprehensive effort to find links between genetic variants and low mood comes up empty.
- Space
Stellar baby picture
The newborn stars, not even a million years old, formed when regions of a cloud of cool dust and gas (visible at center left) collapsed from gravity.
By Andrew Grant - Animals
Finally, the truth about barnacle sex is revealed
A genetic analysis shows that the sessile crustaceans can broadcast sperm in water, contrary to previous assumptions.
By Susan Milius - Animals
Claims of fairness in apes have critics crying foul
A report that chimps divvy up rewards much as people do draws criticism.
By Bruce Bower