News

  1. Humans

    Technique may reveal where it all began

    A new strategy overcomes a distance quandary as it tracks the origins of widespread phenomena — from an E. coli outbreak to a fad.

    By Rachel Ehrenberg
  2. Humans

    Modern era brings death to words

    An analysis of books published over two centuries shows how words are born or succumb to shifting social and technological influences.

    By Rachel Ehrenberg
  3. Life

    After a breakup, coral embryos live on as clones

    Even modest waves can break apart embryonic corals, but the bits that survive can grow into separate clones.

    By Susan Milius
  4. Psychology

    Kids flex cultural muscles

    Young children, but not chimps or monkeys, generate collective leaps of knowledge.