News
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LifeChicken cells have strong sense of sexual identity
In birds, hormones may not be the last word in determining males and females.
By Susan Milius -
LifeEvolutionary genetic relationships coming into focus
Researchers have filled in about 40 percent of the tree of life for mammals and birds, but other vertebrates lag behind.
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Health & MedicineCocktails ward off the bulge
A large study has found that middle-aged women who drink moderately gain less weight over the years compared to their teetotaling peers.
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ClimateAncient Norse colonies hit bad climate times
Temperatures in Iceland plummeted soon after settlers arrived, a new chemical analysis suggests.
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LifeChameleon tongues snappy even when cold
Collagen gives the creatures a bug-catching advantage in chilly conditions.
By Sid Perkins -
LifeBoys and girls differ in genetic response to what mom eats
Expectant mothers’ diets may influence gene activity differently in the placentas that feed sons and daughters, a new mouse study reveals.
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Health & MedicineGene linked to pain perception
A common genetic variant that appears to increase sensitivity could lead to the development of better medications.
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EarthCountry ants make it big in the city
Odorous house ants act like invading aliens when they discover urban living.
By Susan Milius -
LifeMature females key to beluga sturgeon survival
Hatchery fish are unlikely to restore caviar-producing fish populations, a new assessment finds.
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PsychologyAlcohol distills aggression in large men
A new study suggests that the ‘big, mean drunk guy’ stereotype contains some truth.
By Bruce Bower -
SpaceGeophysicists push age of Earth’s magnetic field back 250 million years
South African rocks suggest that the earliest stages of life on Earth were protected from harmful solar radiation.
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EarthArctic seafloor a big source of methane
Measurements show that Arctic undersea methane deposits, previously thought to be sealed by permafrost, are leaking into the atmosphere.
By Sid Perkins