Life

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Neuroscience

    Year in review: The nose knows a trillion odors

    Humans can suss out more than 1 trillion different smells, a 2014 study estimated.

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  2. Archaeology

    Year in review: Roster of dinosaurs expands

    With the discovery of several new species and a few dogma-shaking revelations, dinosaurs got a total rethink in 2014.

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  3. Animals

    Year in review: The post-pigeon century

    Birds' troubles received an eerie emphasis in the news when biologists marked the 100th anniversary of the death of the last known passenger pigeon.

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  4. Genetics

    Year in review: Life’s complexity recoded

    New genetic letters in bacteria and a simplified yeast chromosome showcase scientists' advances in understanding the simplicity and complexity of life.

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  5. Animals

    Australia’s unexpectedly dangerous creatures

    Australia is home to an array of deadly things — from crocodiles to venomous snakes — but dangers can also be found among seemingly safe critters.

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  6. Ecosystems

    Bee losses followed World Wars

    British historical records show a century-long decline of important pollinators: bees and some wasps.

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  7. Life

    New tree of life confirms strange history of birds

    A genetic analysis supports some odd groupings in the bird tree of life, showing a lot of convergent evolution in avian history.

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  8. Earth

    Mega volcanism indicted in dinosaur demise

    Precision dating strengthens idea that climate-altering Deccan volcanism contributed to dinosaur extinction.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    Gene variant linked to robust flu vaccine response

    Targeting an immune signaling protein called interleukin-28B might boost protection generated by flu shots.

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  10. Genetics

    Early heart attack tied to rare mutations in two genes

    Rare mutations in two genes greatly increase the risk of having a heart attack early in life, a study shows.

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  11. Life

    Imprisoning parasites can deter malaria’s spread

    Disabling a protein traps malaria-causing parasites within red blood cells and prevents the organisms from reproducing.

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  12. Genetics

    New type of stem cells, fuzzy and flexible

    A new way to make stem cells produces fuzzy cells that appear as flexible as other types of stem cells, but are easier to grow in the lab and avoid ethical issues.

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