News
- Life
New fungi the dark matter of mushrooms
Scientists see the first images of an ancient lineage of microbes that can’t be grown in the lab.
By Susan Milius - Humans
Networks dominated by rule of the few
Certain systems, including social hubs like Facebook, can be directed from relatively few control points.
- Humans
‘Bonding hormone’ linked to post-baby blues
Low oxytocin levels in pregnant women may help predict whether they will have postpartum depression.
- Space
Crab Nebula activity keeps confounding
Unusually rapid fluctuations in the output of a supernova remnant send theorists scuttling for a reasonable explanation.
By Ron Cowen - Chemistry
Idling jets pollute more than thought
Oily droplets emitted by planes operating at low power can turn into potentially toxic airborne particles.
By Janet Raloff - Life
Animals quickly colonized freshwater
Fossilized worm burrows show that life had moved beyond the oceans by 530 million years ago.
- Health & Medicine
Unnoticed celiac disease worth treating
People who have an antibody reaction to gluten but no outward symptoms are better off if they avoid grains containing the protein, a study shows.
By Nathan Seppa - Psychology
Autism rates head up
Disorders may affect more kids than previously thought, a study in South Korea suggests.
By Bruce Bower - Life
Fungus strikes but doesn’t kill European bats
Organism that is devastating North American populations might have coevolved with hosts overseas.
By Janet Raloff - Astronomy
Supermassive black hole rises and shines
Astronomers may have witnessed the activation of a dormant supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy.
By Ron Cowen - Psychology
Thinking better with depression
Study suggests people with the mood disorder have an advantage when making certain decisions.
By Bruce Bower - Chemistry
Spray of zinc marks fertilization
Embryonic development begins with an outpouring of the metal, illustrating chemistry's importance in orchestrating biological processes.