Life
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
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AnimalsHow a seahorse dad is like a pregnant woman
Live birth has evolved at least 150 times in vertebrates, including in seahorses and humans. And there are some surprising similarities between the species.
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Health & MedicineLess vitamin D and melatonin bad for multiple sclerosis
Vitamin D and melatonin play important roles in multiple sclerosis.
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LifeHumans adjust walking style for energy efficiency
Humans can adjust their steps to walk in a way that uses the least amount of energy.
By Meghan Rosen -
AnimalsInvading Argentine ants carry virus that attacks bees
The first survey of viruses in the globally invasive Argentine ant brings both potentially bad and good news.
By Susan Milius -
AnimalsInvading Argentine ant hordes carry a virus that attacks bees
Invasive Argentine ants may be reservoirs for a virus menacing honeybees — and for previously unknown virus.
By Susan Milius -
EarthEarth’s magnetic mystery forces scientists to get creative
In explaining the Earth’s magnetic field paradox, scientists may discover a new question with an even more interesting answer.
By Eva Emerson -
AnthropologyImmortality and more in reader feedback
This week in reader feedback: Immortality and tracing ancient humans.
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AnimalsApes do the darndest things
Several chimp behaviors have researchers wondering if apes are a good model for early hominid life.
By Bruce Bower -
NeuroscienceMisfolded proteins implicated in more brain diseases
Alzheimer’s, other disorders show similarity to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other prion infections.
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LifeSmall number of genes trigger embryo development
New views of early embryo development reveal differences between humans and mice.
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AnimalsWhen octopuses dance beak to beak
The larger Pacific striped octopus does sex, motherhood and shrimp pranks like nobody else.
By Susan Milius -
AnthropologyMinutes after encountering danger, lemurs yawn
Madagascar primates yawn within minutes of encountering threats.
By Bruce Bower