News
- Animals
Foodfree growth
Rattlesnakes undergo a hibernation-like state to survive long periods of famine, while continuing to grow longer.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Alcohol spurs cancer growth
Downing the human equivalent of two to four alcoholic drinks per day dramatically spurs the growth of cancers implanted in lab mice.
By Janet Raloff -
Do flame retardants make people fat?
Fat cells exposed to brominated flame retardants undergo changes that would appear to foster obesity and type 2 diabetes.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Breakfast trends
Although breakfasts tend to pack a lot of nutrition per typical calorie consumed, one in five U.S. residents skips this meal.
By Janet Raloff - Planetary Science
Another visitor to Mars
The newest spacecraft from Earth arrived at the Red Planet on March 10.
By Ron Cowen - Planetary Science
Making Mercury
New computer simulations of Mercury's violent formation account for the planet's abundance of heavy elements and also reveal that some of the debris generated by the collision could have found its way to Earth and Venus.
By Ron Cowen - Animals
Hummingbirds can clock flower refills
Hummingbirds can keep track of when a particular flower has replenished its nectar and is worth visiting again.
By Susan Milius - Archaeology
Early farmers took time to tame wheat
Domesticated varieties of wheat emerged gradually in the prehistoric Near East over a roughly 3,000-year span.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Building a Bladder: Patients for the first time benefit from lab-grown organs
The humble bladder is now the world's first bioengineered internal organ to work in people.
- Humans
A Shot against Pandemic Flu: Vaccines would play pivotal role in response
Mass vaccination should be the linchpin of the U.S. response to an influenza pandemic, according to new computer simulations.
By Ben Harder - Anthropology
Mystery Drilling: Ancient teeth endured dental procedures
Researchers have discovered the oldest known examples of dental work, 11 teeth with drilled holes dating to between 9,000 and 7,500 years ago.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Polyp Stopper: Controversial drug may prevent colon growths
An anti-inflammatory drug currently prescribed for arthritis and pain can prevent formation of precancerous growths in the colon and rectum.
By Nathan Seppa