Life

Sign up for our newsletter

We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Anthropology

    Readers question hominid family tree

    Readers sent feedback on hominid origins, fast cameras, slimy sea creatures and more.

    By
  2. Health & Medicine

    Most football players who donated their brains to science had traumatic injury

    A self-selected sample of 202 deceased football players, the largest to date, finds that the majority suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

    By
  3. Neuroscience

    There’s a long way to go in understanding the brain

    Neuroscientists offer multiple “perspectives” on how to plug gaps in current knowledge of the brain’s inner workings.

    By
  4. Animals

    Fire ants build towers with three simple rules

    Fire ants use the same set of simple rules to produce static rafts and perpetually moving towers.

    By
  5. Genetics

    Resistance to CRISPR gene drives may arise easily

    New tools for pest and disease control could become useless without improvements.

    By
  6. Health & Medicine

    Cows produce powerful HIV antibodies

    For the first time in any animal, researchers elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. Cows’ antibodies could help with drug development.

    By
  7. Animals

    Elephant seals recognize rivals by the tempo of their calls

    The distinct sputtering-lawnmower sound of a male elephant seal’s call has a tempo that broadcasts his identity to competitors.

    By
  8. Tech

    This robot grows like a plant

    A new soft robot navigates its environment by growing in a manner inspired by plants.

    By
  9. Genetics

    These genes may be why dogs are so friendly

    Dog domestication may be the result of just a few genetic changes, including ones that made canines more interested in interacting with people.

    By
  10. Health & Medicine

    Common drugs help reverse signs of fetal alcohol syndrome in rats

    A thyroid hormone and a blood sugar drug affect levels of a hormone needed for brain development, study in rats shows.

    By
  11. Genetics

    Dog domestication happened just once, ancient DNA study suggests

    DNA of ancient canines counters idea that dogs were domesticated twice, in Europe and Asia.

    By
  12. Agriculture

    GM moth trial gets a green light from USDA

    GM diamondback moths will take wing in a New York field trial.

    By