News
- Planetary Science
Wheels down, Mars rover takes in the view
After a safe landing, NASA’s Curiosity begins transmitting images back to Earth.
- Humans
North African Diaspora written in genes
DNA analysis of people from 15 groups identifies distinct groups and migrations.
- Health & Medicine
Monkey brains sensitive to others’ flubs
Some of the brain’s nerve cells are programmed to light up only upon witnessing another’s error.
- Planetary Science
Curiosity lands safely on Mars
Lowered by sky crane onto the surface, NASA rover prepares to look for signs that life could have evolved on the Red Planet.
- Earth
Extreme hot spells rising
Analyzing six decades of temperature records reveals inexorable warming and increasing episodes of extreme heat.
- Earth
Greenland enters melt mode
This year’s record-breaking island-wide thaw punctuates an ongoing warming trend.
- Life
How the elephant gets its infrasound
Just blowing air through a pachyderm’s larynx produces fundamental elements of the mysterious rumblings that send messages too low for people to hear.
- Life
Rabies resistance arises in backwater thick with vampire bats
Residents of two remote Peruvian communities appear to have survived infection by the deadly virus.
- Astronomy
Curiosity to look for habitable environs
Set to land on Mars August 5, NASA mission will search for signs that the planet could support life, now or long ago.
- Life
Select cells appear to spawn tumors
Separate studies support the theory that stem cells cause cancers to emerge and recur.
- Health & Medicine
Alzheimer’s protein could help in MS
A-beta, the same molecule that has been tied to dementia when it accumulates in the brain, appears to reduce damage when introduced to the bodies of mice with symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
- Humans
DNA hints at African cousin to humans
Complete genetic profiles of people from three hunter-gatherer groups suggest Homo sapiens interbred with a now-extinct species on the continent relatively recently.
