Life

  1. Life

    Polar bears older than previously thought

    New analysis reveals that the Arctic species dates back to about 600,000 years ago.

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  2. Chemistry

    Synthetic heredity molecules emulate DNA

    Scientists have created six XNAs that, like the genetic building blocks they mimic, can store and pass on hereditary information.

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  3. Life

    See, blind mice

    Transplants of light-gathering cells restore night vision in rodents.

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  4. Life

    Engineering better hair transplants

    Cell-based approach to new follicles takes hold in skin.

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  5. Life

    Daytime anesthesia gives bees jet lag

    Honeybees, as stand-ins for surgery patients, show drug’s aftereffects as biorhythms get out sync.

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  6. Life

    Underground resistance

    Cave bacteria’s ability to fight antibiotics predates human-made drugs.

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  7. Animals

    Chimps show lethal side

    A collaborative scientific effort offers an inside look at ape homicides.

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  8. Life

    Baboons show their word skills

    Monkeys learn to distinguish words from nonwords, suggesting ancient evolutionary roots for reading.

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  9. Physics

    Insects covered in tough stuff

    Locust exoskeleton could inspire new, fracture-resistant materials.

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  10. Life

    Molting cleanses water fleas

    Losing a carapace means also losing parasitic bacteria.

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  11. Life

    Pigeon navigation finding called off-course

    Iron-containing cells that had been reported in beaks look mostly like immune system components, a new study finds.

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  12. Life

    Bat-killing fungus is a European import

    Tracing the origins of the strain that causes white-nose syndrome in U.S. animals to Europe, scientists show that infection ups arousal rate during hibernation, depleting energy stores.

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