Laurel Hamers
Laurel Hamers was the general assignment reporter at Science News.
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All Stories by Laurel Hamers
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Ecosystems
Seagrasses boost ecosystem health by fighting bad bacteria
Seagrasses might reduce bacteria levels in ocean water.
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Ecosystems
Mapping rainforest chemistry from the air reveals 36 types of forest
Aircraft analysis of tree chemicals reveals new biodiversity in the Peruvian rainforest.
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Life
Rapid Ebola test to detect early infection in the works
Scientists are developing highly specific antibodies to detect Ebola sooner.
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Life
Malaria molecule makes blood extra-alluring to mosquitoes
Scientists have identified a molecule that draws mosquitoes to malaria-infected blood.
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Neuroscience
If chewing sounds irk you, blame your brain
People who find chewing and slurping sounds annoying have structural differences in their brains.
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Paleontology
Baby dinosaurs took three to six months to hatch
Growth lines on teeth indicate a surprisingly long incubation period.
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Life
What a mosquito’s immune system can tell us about fighting malaria
Immune system messengers carried in microscopic sacs help mosquitoes fend off malaria, new research suggests.
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Neuroscience
How mice use their brain to hunt
Messages from the brain’s amygdala help mice chase and kill prey.
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Neuroscience
Facial-processing area of brain keeps growing throughout childhood
Contrary to scientists’ expectations, a facial-processing area of the brain grows new tissue during childhood, an MRI study suggests.
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Chemistry
Carbon can exceed four-bond limit
Scientists confirm structure of unusual molecule in which carbon bonds to six other carbon atoms.
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Life
Ancient enzymes adapted to a cooler Earth to keep life’s chemical reactions going
Ancient enzymes kept their speed at lower temperatures.
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Animals
For some salamanders, finding a mate is a marathon
Small-mouthed salamanders will travel close to nine kilometers on average to mate, a new study finds.