Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Animals
Humidity makes these bees turn green
North American sweat bees change color depending on the surrounding humidity. It might be a more widespread phenomenon among insects.
- Health & Medicine
Beyond Inheritance offers a new view of mutations
In her debut book, science writer Roxanne Khamsi offers a new view of mutations that’s not limited to birth and death.
- Oceans
Got pesky, invasive corals? Blast ‘em away with air guns
Compressed air bids bye-bye to invasive sun corals in Brazil. The blasts obliterated soft tissue and fragments couldn't regenerate.
- Animals
This kea parrot is the first-known disabled alpha male
With half a beak, Bruce has developed an innovative fighting style that has won the kea top status in his flock, videos and documented interactions reveal.
- Animals
An endangered mouse may need a helping hand to adapt to climate change
Pacific pocket mice are geographically isolated, but the species may retain the genetic diversity needed to adapt to climate change.
- Anthropology
How to invent a realistic language for fictional speakers
Linguists can mix, match or even break the rules of real-world languages to create interesting imaginary ones.
- Animals
This tree is number one for cloud forest mammals going number two
The strangler fig is a keystone species in the tropics, providing food and shelter, and a place to poop for 17 different mammal species.
- Health & Medicine
Some GLP-1 drugs are more effective for those with specific gene variants
In a study, people with gene variants in two genes lost slightly more weight on GLP-1 drugs, but threw up more on Zepbound.
- Health & Medicine
New mutations help the H5N1 bird flu virus infect cows but not people
The findings show how the H5N1 bird flu virus is evolving in livestock and what that may mean for human health.
- Life
Smithsonian secrets most likely to blow your mind
Millions of objects stashed at a site open only to select visitors tell the history of Earth's inhabitants.
- Life
Talking dogs and chatty cats could one day ‘speak’ in our language
Advances in decoding animal sounds might someday make animal translators a possibility.
- Animals
For gray whales, San Francisco Bay is becoming a deadly pit stop
Climate change could be forcing gray whales to seek food in San Francisco Bay, where vessel strikes may be driving rising deaths.
