News
- Life
Geneticists go ape for better primate family tree
The first gorilla genome and a more detailed look at chimp genetics provide new clues to evolution of humans and their closest relatives.
- Health & Medicine
Retina can help reveal brain health
Among older women, diseased blood vessels at the back of the eye are linked to lower scores on mental tests and other signs of possible ministrokes.
- Earth
Greek volcano reawakens
Potential eruption wouldn’t be anything like Santorini’s storied Bronze Age blowout, scientists say.
- Life
Size doesn’t matter for crayfish’s one-two crunch
Biological deception may give crustaceans an advantage during a fight.
- Humans
Teens win big at science competition
The top awards in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search go to young scientists working on cancer, innovative sources of energy and behavioral genetics.
By Devin Powell - Life
Tracking the viral link to lymphoma
A mutation in an anticancer gene in the Epstein-Barr virus may account for some of its malignant effect, research shows.
By Nathan Seppa - Psychology
Pi master’s storied recall
Remembering more than 60,000 consecutive numbers takes exhaustive practice at spinning yarns.
By Bruce Bower - Life
Mild winters may shift spread of mosquito-borne illness
By pushing insects to start biting mammals earlier in the year, warmer cold months could increase the transmission of a brain virus affecting people and horses.
By Susan Milius - Life
Carnivores can lose sweet genes
A gene involved in taste detection has glitches in some, but not all, highly carnivorous mammals.
By Susan Milius - Humans
Science competition finalists go public
Public day allows high school students to present their projects.
By Devin Powell - Chemistry
Polymer power drives tiny reactions
Applying pressure to a building block of plastic in water, researchers generate enough energy to make your Nikes glow and do other chemical work.
- Life
Microraptor’s true blue colors
The birdlike dinosaur had black, iridescent feathers that may have helped it attract mates.
By Devin Powell