Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
Bacteria binged on BP oil but didn’t grow
Researchers suspect the spilled crude didn’t provide a balanced diet.
- Life
Genes & Cells
Lung infections, stress effects in the womb and the genetics of stomach cancer in this week’s news.
- Life
How exercise benefits nerve cells
Activity stimulates production of a neural insulation that moves messages faster.
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- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Life
DNA switches tied to non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Genetic defects lead to altered activity in other genes.
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- Life
Genes & Cells
Family ties in memory and breast cancer, plus diagnosing ancient deaths and more in this week’s news.
- Life
Dolphin may sense the body electric
Organs on the species' snout help it detect faint fields, like those generated by prey.
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