Life

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We summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Life

    Sickle-cell may blunt, not stop, malaria

    Once thought to keep parasite out of cells, the trait appears to diminish the severity of infection.

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  2. Life

    Genes & Cells

    A boost for tired antibiotics, plus a fishy mom’s mucus and high-gravity microbes in this week’s news.

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  3. Life

    Zap! More fish

    An upgraded brain underlies the wide diversity in a family of electric fish, scientists say.

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  4. Life

    Antarctic humpbacks make a krill killing

    Late-arriving sea ice enhances crustacean feast for whales, but the bounty may be fleeting.

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  5. Life

    Life

    An orchid uses its moldy looks to draw flies, plus snake fights and beelining whales in this week’s news.

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  6. Life

    Half-asleep rats look wide awake

    In a discovery with ominous implications for sleep deprivation, researchers find that some brain regions can doze off while an animal remains active.

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  7. Life

    Great (Dane) minds don’t think alike

    Female dogs react to an unexpected twist that males show no awareness of, suggesting that canine sexes are wired differently.

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  8. Tech

    Robot based on cartwheeling caterpillars

    GoQBot curls itself up and takes off spinning.

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  9. Life

    The eyespots have it after all

    New experiments may reconcile conflicting views regarding what makes a peacock’s plumage attractive to females.

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  10. Life

    Teamwork keeps fire ants high and dry

    Scientists get a look at the physics that floats a bug's boat.

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  11. Life

    Genes & Cells

    How humans evolved shorter pregnancies, plus crayfish brains and restoring nerve insulation in this week’s news.

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  12. Life

    Life

    Colorful duck bills hint at sperm quality, plus dangerous jellies and throwback bees in this week’s news.

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