Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
Gene links autism, bellyaches
Researchers have uncovered a genetic link between autism and gastrointestinal disorders in some families.
- Life
Prions complicit in Alzheimer’s disease
A study in mice suggests a version of prion proteins, which are known to cause the brain-wasting mad cow and Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases, may also play a role in neuron malfunction.
- Life
New stegosaur is quite a stretch
A newly discovered stegosaur has neck proportions like those of sauropods.
- Animals
Climate change discourages second families
Birds out of sync with local baby food supply of caterpillars aren’t nesting a second time.
- Life
Tastes like metal
Scientists have discovered that proteins that help sense sweet and spice also help taste metals.
- Plants
Animals’ jaundice pigment found in plants
Bilirubin, a compound well known in animals, gives seed fuzz its intense orange.
- Life
Anti-aging: A little stress may keep cells youthful
The aging-related Sirtuin 1 protein also regulates heat shock response, a mechanism cells use to combat stress.
- Ecosystems
Marine census: Surprising number of creatures bipolar
Census of Marine Life offers a preview of massive international census gives fuller count, shows some sea species at both poles.
- Life
Jumping genes provide unexpected diversity
Mobile DNA elements have stuffed and shrunk the human genome, a comparison of two genomes reveal
- Planetary Science
Earth may be home to unearthly life
No need to look on other planets for new forms of life — weird life could exist right here on Earth.
- Life
Sponge’s secret weapon restores antibiotics’ power
A chemical from an ocean-dwelling sponge can reprogram antibiotic resistant bacteria to make them vulnerable to medicines again, new evidence suggests.
- Humans
AAAS: March of the Hungry Penguins
Patagonian penguins have become sentinels of climate change and human impacts on the marine world.
