Life
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
Nerve stem cells treat gut disorder in mice
Nerve stem cell therapy treats gut disorder by connecting to nervous system.
- Life
As fish watch prey, researchers watch fish’s brains
Genetically engineered neurons allow researchers to watch fish brains as they track prey.
- Life
Pigeons’ prominent plumage traces to one gene
A mutation responsible for ruffs, crests and collars appears to have arisen once and then passed among species through breeding.
- Animals
Cats kill more than one billion birds each year
New analysis doubles estimate of avian death tolls, revealing that hunting felines take bigger bite out of wildlife than expected.
By Susan Milius - Life
Gene variant makes flu particularly dangerous
People with one form of IFITM3 are more likely to develop pneumonia.
- Life
Caribbean’s coral reefs approach tipping point
A survey of 19 colonies suggests many may soon begin to shrink.
- Life
Chimps’ baby teeth don’t predict weaning
The age at which a chimpanzee gets its first molar tooth doesn't predict when it will stop nursing.
By Erin Wayman - Humans
U.S. team breaks through subglacial lake
Testing should continue for a day or more, probing for life in the Antarctic depths.
By Janet Raloff - Animals
Dung beetles steer by the Milky Way
The insects orient themselves using starlight, researchers find in planetarium experiments.
By Susan Milius - Life
Group to Group
Wild chimpanzees pick up ant-fishing behavior from a female immigrant.
By Erin Wayman - Humans
H5N1 influenza research moratorium ends
Scientists lift self-imposed moratorium on research that would make avian flu transmissible among humans.
- Life
Starchy diet may have transformed wolves to dogs
Gaining the ability to digest carbohydrates may have been an important step in domesticating dogs.