Life

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We summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Neuroscience

    The Aesthetic Brain

    How We Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art by Anjan Chatterjee.

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  2. Animals

    A gory 12 days of Christmas

    Insects and spiders are among the biggest gift-givers, often as part of mating, and anything from cyanide to a wad of saliva can be a present.

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  3. Genetics

    You are what your dad ate, perhaps

    Your development is affected by what your mother ate while she was pregnant with you. Is it also affected by what your father ate? A new study suggests that folate deficiency in dads can affect their offspring through epigenetic changes.

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  4. Animals

    Before a fight, chameleons engage in colorful communication

    Before one chameleon rumbles with another, he’ll display his side and change his stripes, indicating his willingness to fight.

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  5. Microbes

    Virus-thwarting mosquitoes decline on Vietnamese island

    Scientists plan to release second generation of mosquitoes that stop the spread of dengue fever.

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  6. Microbes

    Bacteria turn threatening in tests with immune cells

    In less than 30 days, nonthreatening E. coli can transform into dangerous microbes in mice.

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  7. Animals

    Bedbugs survive cold, but not for too long

    Some studies have indicated that cold might kill bedbugs after as little as one hour of exposure. But new research finds that’s not the case.

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  8. Neuroscience

    Concussion-free head blows may still affect brain

    Some college athletes who played contact sports had more changes in their brain’s white matter than varsity competitors in less violent games.

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  9. Life

    Animal origins shift to comb jellies

    Genetic data confirm the marine predators have more ancient origin than simpler sponges.

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  10. Paleontology

    Fleshy comb is first found on a dinosaur

    A fossil head has both a duck bill and a soft-tissue crest, scientists suggest.

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  11. Animals

    Lizard breath has surprising birdlike flow

    Decades of assumptions may be wrong about the evolution of reptile lungs.

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  12. Life

    Dietary changes affect gut microbes within a day

    Menu restricted to meat, egg and cheese alters bacterial mix more than eating only plants.

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