Life

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Life

    This won’t hurt a bit

    A new technology delivers vaccines through a Band-Aid–like patch.

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  2. Life

    Animal sperm arose once

    A gene governing production of male reproductive cells goes back to a common ancestor that lived about 600 million years ago, a study finds.

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  3. Chemistry

    Smelling the menu

    Mouse breath triggers special cells in the nose that help send a safe-to-eat message.

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  4. Earth

    New ‘walking’ fishes discovered in Gulf oil-spill zone

    Pancake batfishes may be getting oiled before they get named.

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  5. Paleontology

    Apes and Old World monkeys may have split later than thought

    A 29- to 28-million-year-old primate fossil found in Saudi Arabia assists scientists in timing a major evolutionary transition.

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  6. Life

    Science leaps forward with Calaveras County frog jump

    Biologists test the pros of amphibian athletics.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    Antiaging protein also boosts learning and memory

    An antiaging molecule also helps keep the mind sharp.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    Proteins last longer in the brain

    A study in mice could lead to a better understanding of aging, Alzheimer’s and other degenerative processes.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    Critics point to flaws in longevity study

    BLOG: A study showing a genetic basis for exceptionally long life in humans has come under fire from critics.

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  10. Earth

    Mangroves do a coast good

    Left intact, dense swaths of trees can reduce tsunami damage, a new study suggests.

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  11. Life

    Fertilizing future brain cells

    A new compound helps newborn neurons grow up.

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  12. Health & Medicine

    Protein regulator shows promise against addiction

    Elevating levels of a tiny molecule in rats’ brains blunted the animals’ cocaine use.

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