News
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AnimalsAphids make their own bright colors
The insects’ ancestors adapted fungal DNA for manufacturing vital compounds.
By Susan Milius -
SpaceMeasuring the weakest of forces
Precise measurements could be used to map tiny fluctuations in the surface properties of materials.
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SpaceMediterranean microfossils offer hope for finding life on Mars
A discovery in sulfate minerals on Earth suggests the possibility of similar signs of life on the Red Planet.
By Ron Cowen -
LifeDNA comparison of identical twins finds no silver bullet for MS
The first study of its kind suggests an unknown environmental cause for multiple sclerosis, but future research could still yield a genetic trigger.
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Health & MedicineVitamin E, diabetes drug may reverse fatty liver disease
Test results in obese people suggest these two treatments may work against cirrhosis precursor.
By Nathan Seppa -
SpaceFrozen asteroid
Scientists publish two new studies showing evidence of ice on object in asteroid belt.
By Ron Cowen -
PaleontologyDinos molted for a new look
In one species, adolescents appear to have sprouted a new type of feathers as they matured.
By Sid Perkins -
Materials ScienceInfection, kill thyself
Scientists devise wound dressings that trick bacteria into suicide.
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HumansVision gets better with the right mind-set
Volunteers’ eyesight improved when they believed that they could see particularly well.
By Bruce Bower -
Health & MedicineBody makes its own morphine
A study in mice suggests other mammals, including humans, can produce the painkiller in their bodies.
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AnimalsChimps may be aware of others’ deaths
Reactions of chimps to dead companions and infants suggest a basic realization of what death entails.
By Bruce Bower -
LifeParadox of dining in deep, wet mud
A bonanza of food doesn’t necessarily result in biodiversity among deep sediment dwellers off California’s coast.
By Susan Milius