Life

  1. Life

    Common virus may ride up nose to brain

    Almost everyone is infected, but in some people a widespread herpes bug appears to reach the central nervous system by an olfactory route.

    By
  2. Life

    Bacteria binged on BP oil but didn’t grow

    Researchers suspect the spilled crude didn’t provide a balanced diet.

    By
  3. Life

    Genes & Cells

    Lung infections, stress effects in the womb and the genetics of stomach cancer in this week’s news.

    By
  4. Life

    How exercise benefits nerve cells

    Activity stimulates production of a neural insulation that moves messages faster.

    By
  5. Life

    Life

    Flowery advertising, tempting toilets for shrews, bat beacons and more in this week’s news.

    By
  6. Life

    A cougar in Connecticut

    Using DNA and trailside cameras, wildlife biologists retrace the 18-month, 2,000-mile journey of a young male cat.

    By
  7. Earth

    Eels point to suffocating Gulf floor

    In June, scientists predicted that the Gulf of Mexico’s annual dead zone — a subsea region where the water contains too little oxygen to support life — might develop into the biggest ever. In fact, that didn’t happen. Owing to the fortuitous arrival of stormy weather, this year’s dead zone peaked at about 6,800 square miles, scientists reported on Aug. 1 — big but far from the record behemoth of 9,500 square miles that had been mentioned as distinctly possible.

    By
  8. Life

    Wasp has built-in Facebook

    An insect species with a tricky social life has a special facility for telling one bug's mug from another.

    By
  9. Life

    DNA switches tied to non-Hodgkin lymphoma

    Genetic defects lead to altered activity in other genes.

    By
  10. Tech

    Cracked sewers bleed fecal germs

    Studies follow leaks into waterways and drinking supplies.

    By
  11. Life

    Genes & Cells

    Family ties in memory and breast cancer, plus diagnosing ancient deaths and more in this week’s news.

    By
  12. Life

    Dolphin may sense the body electric

    Organs on the species' snout help it detect faint fields, like those generated by prey.

    By