News
- Humans
In-laws transformed early human society
A study of today's hunter-gatherers finds marital relationships help spread a social fabric.
- Chemistry
Light-sensor pulls perplexing double duty
A long-studied eye pigment appears to also detect temperature, a study in fruit flies shows.
- Physics
Tractor beams arrive two centuries early
Trekkie devices that can pull instead of push have been developed by U.S. and Chinese physicists to move small objects.
- Health & Medicine
Digging into the roots of lupus
Two new studies implicate common white blood cells called neutrophils in this autoimmune disease.
- Humans
Missing bits of DNA may define humans
Genetic information lost along the way may have led to bigger brains and spineless penises, among other traits.
- Life
Anxiety switch makes mice shy no more
Brain-control experiments could help shed light on psychiatric disorders
- Life
Help, elephants need somebody
In pull-together tests, pachyderms are on par with chimps in understanding the basics of cooperation.
- Physics
Soot hastens snowmelt on Tibetan Plateau
Black carbon pollution is a more potent driver of melting in the region than increases in carbon dioxide, a new computer simulation suggests.
- Health & Medicine
‘Diabetes Belt’ outlined
The Deep South and Appalachia show a high prevalence linked to obesity, poor educational achievement and a sedentary lifestyle, a study shows.
- Space
The best next space missions
The National Research Council issues recommendations for planetary science projects that NASA and NSF should fund starting in 2013.
- Health & Medicine
Stretchy electronics aid heart surgery
New balloon catheters may help cardiologists treat common cardiac problems.
- Health & Medicine
Alpha wave may affect sleep quality
A type of brain activity once considered diagnostic of wakefulness persists during slumber, and the more intense it is the more easily a person can be jolted awake.
