Life
We summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.
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- Animals
Cicadas’ odd life cycle poses evolutionary conundrums
Scientists are getting an idea about the odd family tree of periodical cicadas, how the insects synchronize their life cycles and why they breed side-by-side with others unsuitable for mating.
- Life
Genes in wheat relatives help stave off stem rust
Wild and obscure species provide resistance to deadly fungus.
- Life
Ancient horse’s DNA fills in picture of equine evolution
An entire genome compiled from a 700,000-year-old bone yields new information about equine history.
- Animals
Lemurs’ group size predicts social intelligence
Primates that live with many others know not to steal food when someone is watching.
- Animals
Elephant diets changed millions of years before their teeth
The animals fed on grasses long before their molars could grind the tough plants.
- Life
Brain cell insulators are short-timers
Limited myelin production time may make it harder to repair nerve casings damaged by multiple sclerosis.
- Life
Cabbage circadian clocks tick even after picking
Daily cycles in vegetables help ward off hungry caterpillars.
- Life
On the trail of a new virus
Map of MERS infection finds microbe spread through hospital dialysis units.
- Animals
In dark fishing spiders, males’ postmating nap is permanent
Species prepares for two pairings but goes into a fatal coma after a single encounter.
- Animals
Oysters may struggle to build shells as carbon dioxide rises
Ocean acidification could hamper larvae's growth.
