News
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EarthModerate climate warming could melt permafrost
Ancient cave formations in Siberia reveal effects of warmer past on frozen ground.
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LifeInsulin levels wax and wane daily
Modern life may clash with the hormone’s natural cycle, new mouse research suggests.
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SpaceNew home for runaway black hole
Galactic merger and ejection may have sent a cosmic wanderer through deep space.
By Andrew Grant -
EarthIntensive care linked to BPA exposure in newborns
High levels of pollutant BPA occur in sickest babies, study finds.
By Janet Raloff -
LifeBees learn the electric buzz of flowers
Floral electric fields could join color and fragrance as cues to pollinators.
By Susan Milius -
LifeChill turns monarchs north
Temperature manipulation appears to solve mystery of what triggers migratory butterflies’ homeward trip.
By Meghan Rosen -
Health & MedicineSurgery shows promise in treating persistent heartburn
Ring-shaped device around esophagus prevents acid reflux so that patients can stop taking drugs.
By Nathan Seppa -
TechImaging technique offers look inside hearing loss
Two-photon microscopy visualizes hair cells in the inner ear, offering insights into processes leading to deafness.
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HumansOrigins of alcohol consumption traced to ape ancestor
Eating fermented fruit off the ground may have paved way for ability to digest ethanol.
By Erin Wayman -
EarthBlood levels of BPA become source of controversy
New data question whether human blood measurements of BPA reflect sample contamination or just exaggerated exposures.
By Janet Raloff -
EarthAquatic predators affect carbon-storing plant life
Freshwater predator species can prevent the overgrazing of plants that suck up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
By Janet Raloff -
LifeBird, human tweets come from similar parts of the brain
Genetics study finds parallels in birdsong and language.
By Erin Wayman