Life
We summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.
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- Chemistry
Light-sensor pulls perplexing double duty
A long-studied eye pigment appears to also detect temperature, a study in fruit flies shows.
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- Humans
Missing bits of DNA may define humans
Genetic information lost along the way may have led to bigger brains and spineless penises, among other traits.
- Life
Anxiety switch makes mice shy no more
Brain-control experiments could help shed light on psychiatric disorders
- Life
Help, elephants need somebody
In pull-together tests, pachyderms are on par with chimps in understanding the basics of cooperation.
- Life
Good gene type for cancer bad for stroke
A DNA variant that helps prevent tumors may diminish the brain’s recovery after an interruption in blood supply.
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- Life
Hagfish may eat through their skin
The odd dining habits of carrion-eating protovertebrates may be relevant to the evolutionary transition to land.
- Life
Lab-engineered organism fights malaria
A new breed of poison-secreting fungi can kill parasites in a mosquito.
- Humans
U.S. probably began global fire ant spread
A genetic study shows that recent international invasions likely originated in the U.S. South, not the species’ native South American range.
- Life
Genes & Cells
Mouse fur yields insights into the genetics of camouflage, plus more in this week’s news.
