News
- Life
Polar bears’ ancient roots pushed way back
Full genetic blueprints suggest the animals split from brown bears millions of years ago.
By Devin Powell - Life
Fake jellyfish so real it even swims
Constructed of silicone and heart cells, medusoid moves like the real thing.
- Life
Little animals spread sperm for smelly mosses
Sex-specific odors may entice springtails to kick off fertilization.
By Susan Milius - Math
Test decodes dolphins’ math skills
Dolphins could use mental math to locate prey in clouds of bubbles.
By Meghan Rosen - Health & Medicine
Sperm analyzed, one by one
A close look at the sex cell’s DNA reveals basic molecular processes.
- Space
Black hole theory deepens lithium crisis
A new proposal suggests a potential new source of the element as astrophysicists try to explain why it’s in such short supply.
By Nadia Drake - Health & Medicine
Egg in tiny doses curbs allergy
Giving allergic kids minuscule bits of problem food and gradually increasing it over many months wipes out reactions in some, a study finds.
By Nathan Seppa - Earth
Field test stashes climate-warming carbon in deep ocean
Strategically dumping the metal stimulates a bloom of microscopic creatures that carry the greenhouse gas to Davy Jones’s locker.
By Devin Powell - Humans
Mideast violence goes way back
One-quarter of skulls excavated in troubled region display injuries from clubs or other weapons.
By Bruce Bower - Life
Study shows where identical twins part ways
By birth, genetic doubles are already using their DNA differently.
- Humans
Afghanistan on 240 incidents a week
A computer simulation forecasts insurgent activity by analyzing U.S. military logs released on WikiLeaks.
- Physics
How to walk on water
Physicists use X-rays to probe how a fluid can support a person's weight.
By Devin Powell