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Genetics

Gene linked to autism in people may influence dog sociability

DNA variants were linked to beagles’ tendency to seek human help.

Planetary Science

So long, Rosetta: End is near for comet orbiter

During its time in orbit around comet 67P, the Rosetta spacecraft discovered diverse terrains, organic molecules and a source of water quite different from Earth’s oceans.

Earth

Glass bits, charcoal hint at 56-million-year-old space rock impact

Glassy debris and the burnt remains of wildfires suggest that a large space rock hit Earth near the start of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum warming event around 56 million years ago.

Health & Medicine

Concern expands over Zika birth defects

Infection with Zika virus in utero can trigger a spectrum of birth defects beyond microcephaly, and could potentially cause long-term health problems as well.

Paleontology

Ancient microbe fossils show earliest evidence of shell making

Armor-plated, 809-million-year-old fossilized microbes discovered in Canada are the oldest known evidence of shell making.

Astronomy

Solar system sits within major spiral arm of Milky Way

The solar system appears to live in one of the major spiral arms of the Milky Way, not in an offshoot as previously thought.

Animals

New case emerging for Culex mosquito as unexpected Zika spreader

The much-debated proposal that a Culex mosquito could help spread Zika gets some international support.

Animals

Barnacles track whale migration

The mix of oxygen isotopes in the shells of barnacles that latch on to baleen whales may divulge how whale migration routes have changed over millions of years.

Tech

Wi-Fi can help house distinguish between members

Using Wi-Fi, computers could one day identify individual family members in a smart home.

Planetary Science

Europa spouting off again

Plumes of presumably water erupt from the surface of Jupiter’s frozen moon Europa, in images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Climate

Methane didn’t warm ancient Earth, new simulations suggest

Scarce oxygen and abundant sulfate prevented methane from accumulating enough to keep Earth warm hundreds of millions of years ago, reviving the faint young sun paradox.

Planetary Science

Mercury’s surface still changing

A population of small cliffs on Mercury suggests that the planet might have been tectonically active in the last 50 million years.