News
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Chemistry
Dino proteins could have been sheltered
An analysis of collagen structure finds protective pockets, backing up claims of preserved tissue finds.
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Life
Ketamine’s antidepressant effect explained
A potential fast-acting treatment boosts the brain chemical BDNF, which may be lacking in depression.
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Space
Next solar cycle could be a no-show
Three lines of evidence suggest that the sun’s next activity cycle will be delayed for years and may not happen at all, an outcome that could have major implications for Earth’s climate.
By Ron Cowen -
Life
Female infidelity may violate goose-gander parity principle
Female birds stray from their mates in part because of cheating genes from their philandering fathers, a zebra finch study suggests.
By Susan Milius -
Humans
Human mutation rate slower than thought
First direct measurements show that the number of genetic typos inherited from each parent can be highly skewed toward either mom or dad.
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Tech
New technique spins superlong nanowires
Made from any number of materials, fibers are millionths of a millimeter across and kilometers long.
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Life
Diving spiders make their own gills
Eurasian diving bell spiders, the only truly aquatic arachnids, survive underwater with the help of “physical gills,” scientists say.
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Chemistry
Water-air interface barely there
The transition between gas and liquid is an extremely insubstantial affair.
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Life
Heart has cellular regeneration ability
In mice, injecting a protein spurs the organ’s own stem cells to regrow small amounts of tissue after damage.
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Space
Superdupernovas
A new class of stellar explosion is very bright — and somewhat hard to explain.
By Ron Cowen