News
- Humans
Tracing Jewish roots
An analysis of the entire genome of Jewish people shows Middle Eastern roots and traces ancestry across the globe.
- Animals
Diversified portfolio yields benefit for salmon stocks
Local diversity keeps sockeye from going bust every few years, a study finds.
By Susan Milius - Life
Seaweed genome reveals tools for multicellular lifestyle
Genetic blueprints of a brown alga reveal adaptations to changing tides and may give clues for to evolution of more complex life.
- Planetary Science
Jupiter’s crash of ’09
The body that crashed into Jupiter last summer was likely an asteroid, and such impacts might occur as frequently as every 10 to 15 years, new studies suggest.
By Ron Cowen - Chemistry
Vodka’s bonds may influence taste
Differences in vodka brands reflect structural variations in cages of water molecules encasing ethanol, new research suggests.
- Space
Neutrino quick-change artist caught in the act
A transformation from one ‘flavor’ to another confirms the elusive elementary particles have mass and suggests a need for new physics.
By Ron Cowen - Archaeology
Jamestown settlers’ trash confirms hard times
Analyses of discarded oyster shells confirm a deep drought during the Virginia colony’s earliest years.
By Sid Perkins - Humans
Making scents of a partner’s feelings
Couples pick up on subtle differences in other half’s emotion-laden odors, new study suggests.
By Bruce Bower - Humans
Traumatic events trigger diverse responses
New study compares difficulties faced by survivors of life-threatening events.
By Bruce Bower - Psychology
Perfectionism works for some diabetics, but not for new moms
Demanding perfection of oneself boosts longevity for diabetic seniors, but it may prompt depression in new mothers.
By Bruce Bower - Psychology
Kids face up to disgust surprisingly late
A new study suggests that children don’t recognize facial expressions of disgust until age 5, much later than many researchers had assumed.
By Bruce Bower - Materials Science
Quantum photocells might cheat efficiency limits
Factoring in quantum coherence could increase efficiency of harnessing sunlight in photovoltaic cells.