Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
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- Chemistry
Pooping pandas may make better biofuels
Gut microbes break down bamboo efficiently, inspiring new approaches to process raw plant materials for fuel.
- Life
Belly bacteria boss the brain
One type of gut microbe sends antianxiety messages through the vagus nerve, changing the behavior of mice.
- Life
Genes & Cells
Lying sea bass labels, marijuana's genome sequenced and more in this week's news.
- Life
Helping Bats Hold On
Scientists seek a savior as a deadly fungal pandemic explodes through vulnerable colonies.
- Life
Genes may explain who gets sick from flu
People who stay well even after being exposed to the flu have a strong immune reaction to the virus, but in exactly the opposite way as those who get sick.
- Life
Young elephant struck by idea
In a test of insight, a 7-year-old pachyderm finds a way to use toy cube to snag a fruity treat hung just out of reach.
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- Health & Medicine
Studies shed light on Ebola’s M.O.
New findings reveal a key step in how the deadly virus infects cells — and identify compounds that may thwart it.
- Life
Lager’s mystery ingredient found
After scouring the globe, researchers find the missing ancestor of the yeast used to make cold-brewed beer in an unexpected place.
- Life
Antidepressants show signs of countering Alzheimer’s
Human brain scans and mice data link serotonin-boosting drugs with reduced plaque density.
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