Life

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

More Stories in Life

  1. Oceans

    Deep-sea mining could start soon — before we understand its risks

    The U.S. push to mine international waters for metals defies global efforts to control and protect these fragile ecosystems.

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  2. Life

    Why these zombie caterpillars can’t stop eating 

    Sneaky chemistry by a real-life “Last of Us” Cordyceps fungus mind controls its zombie insect victims by convincing them they’re starving.

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  3. Physics

    Scientists 3-D printed a tiny elephant inside a cell

    The first structures ever 3-D printed inside living cells point to applications for biology research.

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  4. Climate

    Climate change could separate vanilla plants and their pollinators

    The vanilla species grown for its flavoring is finicky. Genes from its wild relatives could help make it hardier — but not if those cousins go extinct.

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  5. Life

    A 3-D printed, plastic beaker could help algae grow on Mars

    Algae grown under Mars-like conditions could make bioplastic building materials for structures to harbor life in space.

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  6. Neuroscience

    Popular weight-loss drugs may ease migraines too

    A GLP-1 drug led to fewer days with headaches, a small pilot study of migraine sufferers shows. It may work by lowering pressure inside the head.

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  7. Life

    A barrage of radiation couldn’t kill this hardy life-form

    A type of lichen was able to survive extreme UV radiation in the lab, suggesting that ozone protection might not be required for life on exoplanets.

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  8. Genetics

    Genetics reveal the origin story of East Asia’s favorite sweet bean

    The origin of red beans — also called adzuki — has been murky. A new study says Japan is where it all started.

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  9. Animals

    This bug’s all-in helicopter parenting reshaped its eggs

    An egg-shape trend found among birds shows up in miniature with very protective bug parents. Elongated eggs fit more compactly under mom.

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