Life
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We summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
Old gene, short new trick
A single genetic modification is linked to the stature of short-legged dog breeds, new research shows.
- Earth
Bird deaths blamed on vitamin deficiency
Shortage of thiamine may have been killing birds in the Baltic and possibly elsewhere for some 25 years.
By Susan Milius - Physics
Pseudo pores help fling spores
New studies reveal that a thick, soft plant expels its progeny in an unexpected way.
- Animals
Turtles make sense after all
The odd bodies of turtles add a wrinkle to standard land-dwelling vertebrates.
By Susan Milius - Life
Collins nominated to head NIH
The chemist — turned physician, turned geneticist — has a spiritual side as well.
By Janet Raloff - Animals
Megafish Sleuth: No Steve Irwin
There's no reason a scientist can't be an action hero — even if his damsels in distress have fins.
By Janet Raloff - Earth
Monster stingrays: Field notes from a global wrangler
A megafish biologist shares what he's learning about a rare freshwater species.
By Janet Raloff - Life
Hornets suffocate in bee ball
Researchers find a spike in carbon dioxide, along with an increase in heat, makes honeybees' enemies vulnerable.
- Life
Climate change shrinks sheep
Milder winters help small, weak lambs survive but more competition for food slows growth.
By Susan Milius - Life
New drug hits leukemia early
An experimental drug may stop a deadly leukemia in its early stages, a study of mice shows.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Schizophrenia risk gets more complex
Three studies find that large collections of variants, rather than just a few key mutations, probably predispose someone to schizophrenia.
- Life
Salamanders don’t regrow limbs from scratch
A closer look at regeneration in axolotl amputees shows that tissue replacement relies on cellular “memory.”