News

Health & Medicine

Rare neurons found in monkeys’ brains

Cells linked to empathy and consciousness in primates may offer clues to human self-awareness.

Space

More than one way to explode a star

New observations confirm two leading theories of type 1a supernova production.

Humans

Rural life may boost allergy resistance

Country kids had a greater diversity of bacteria associated with increased levels of the anti-inflammatory molecule IL-10.

Physics

Physicists go totally random

Calculations suggest a way to boost the independence of information flow, a finding that could help in cryptography.

Psychology

When good moods go decisively bad

Positive feelings may lead seniors to weigh fewer options and make poorer choices in some situations.

Humans

Crime numbers may mislead

Criminologists argue that city safety rankings should consider underreporting and other sources of error in compiling statistics.

Earth

Study keeps pace with Greenland glaciers

Herky-jerky motion of the island’s ice suggests that melting ice is unlikely to contribute to dramatic sea level rise this century, but the news isn’t all good.

Astronomy

A star is torn

A black hole’s stellar feast is witnessed by telescopes on Earth and in orbit.

Astronomy

Ancient scribes may have banked on blinking binary

For the Egyptians, luck may have been written in the Demon Star.

Health & Medicine

Protein tweak may trigger Alzheimer’s

An unusual version of the disease-linked amyloid-beta molecule sows destruction in mouse brains.

Life

Controversial flu research published

One of two papers detailing airborne H5N1 experiments is released.

Health & Medicine

Weight loss reduces cancer risk factor

Indicators of inflammation drop with diet and weight loss.