Science Ticker
A roundup of research and breaking news
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Science & Society
John Nash, Louis Nirenberg share math’s Abel Prize
John Nash and Louis Nirenberg will receive the 2015 ‘Nobel of mathematics’ for their work on partial differential equations.
- Quantum Physics
One photon wrangles 3,000 atoms into quantum entanglement
A single photon can trigger the creation of quantum entanglement between thousands of atoms.
- Life
A vineyard’s soil influences the microbiome of a grapevine
Vineyard soil microbes end up on grapes, leaves and flowers, study finds.
- Neuroscience
The brain sees words, even nonsense ones, as pictures
Once we learn a word, our brain sees the string of letters as a picture, even if the word isn't a real one.
- Chemistry
Today’s pot is more potent, less therapeutic
The medicinal qualities of marijuana may be up in smoke thanks to years of cross-breeding plants for a better buzz.
- Planetary Science
Potentially life-friendly nitrogen compounds found on Mars
“Fixed” nitrogen has been found in Mars deposits, raising the possibility that ancient life could have used it to build biomolecules.
- Planetary Science
Bright patches on Ceres are plumes of water, maybe
Bright patches on Ceres could be plumes of water venting into space.
- Animals
Why orangutans cup their mouths to sound an alarm
Orangutans might use their hands to lower the pitch of alarm calls, a study suggests.
- Animals
Parasites make cannibal shrimp hungry
Parasites make sometimes-cannibalistic shrimp more cannibalistic, a new study suggests.
- Genetics
History of the United Kingdom revealed in its genes
A genetics study finds subtle differences that reveal secrets about the history and ancestry of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Animals
How velvet worms slime their prey
Researchers have figured out the mechanics behind velvet worms’ wobbly slime jets.
- Animals
Mudskippers use watery tongue to slurp up snacks on land
When mudskippers move from water to land, they use a tongue made of water to move food to the back of their throat and into their stomachs.
