Science Ticker
A roundup of research and breaking news
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Planetary Science
Rosetta spacecraft’s comet develops dusty envelope
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the target of ESA’s Rosetta mission, has developed a dust coma.
- Health & Medicine
How Kawasaki disease may blow in with the wind
The origin of Kawasaki disease has been linked to farmlands in northeastern China.
- Environment
Fukushima contamination affects butterfly larvae
Butterfly larvae fed leaves with radioactive cesium from the Fukushima nuclear disaster had a higher rate of death and development abnormalities than larvae that got leaves from a location farther from the accident.
- Paleontology
Fragments of long-bodied dino found in Argentina
Named Leinkupal laticauda, the new species dino probably lived into the early Cretaceous period, which began roughly 145 million years ago.
- Health & Medicine
Health care workers test negative for MERS virus
Two health care workers who reportedly fell ill with flulike symptoms after coming in contact with a patient suffering from MERS have tested negative for the virus, according to health officials.
- Health & Medicine
Small molecule aids recovery from radiation sickness
A drug for radiation sickness is a small step toward the larger goal of making effective treatments for human radiation exposure, whether as a medical treatment or after a nuclear disaster.
- Paleontology
Giant 17-million-year-old fossil sperm found
Giant sperm have been found in 17-million-year-old fossilized mussel shrimp. The specimens, collected in Queensland, Australia, sport the oldest petrified sex cells on record.
- Health & Medicine
Two U.S. health care workers fall ill after treating patient with MERS
Two Florida hospital employees have reportedly fallen ill with flulike symptoms after coming in contact with a patient suffering from MERS.
- Health & Medicine
Red wine’s resveratrol not linked to healthier life
Consuming the compound resveratrol in foods is thought to improve health, but it may not actually have anti-inflammatory or anticancer effects.
- Health & Medicine
Second MERS case in U.S. confirmed
A second health care worker has been diagnosed with MERS coronavirus in the United States.
- Life
Pain may keep predators away, in squid anyway
Compared to healthy squid, injured ones start their defensive behaviors, including inking, when sea bass are farther away.
- Genetics
Spider genomes give hints about venom, silk production
The genetic codes identify new proteins that may be involved in making and turning on toxins in venom and also those used to make spider silk.
