Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
Polar bears older than previously thought
New analysis reveals that the Arctic species dates back to about 600,000 years ago.
- 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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- 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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- Animals
Chimps show lethal side
A collaborative scientific effort offers an inside look at ape homicides.
- Life
Baboons show their word skills
Monkeys learn to distinguish words from nonwords, suggesting ancient evolutionary roots for reading.
- Physics
Insects covered in tough stuff
Locust exoskeleton could inspire new, fracture-resistant materials.
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- 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.
- 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.
