Life
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We summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Plants
Parasite Godzilla
Parasites are small but have a big impact. An estuary study reveals that these little annoyances add up to a lot of biomass.
By Susan Milius - Life
Magnetic sense linked to molecule
Fruit fly experiments shed light on animals’ use of Earth’s magnetic field for orientation and navigation.
- Life
The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes: And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and Their Patients
Lucy H. Spelman and Ted Y. Mashima (eds.), Delacorte Press, 2008, 312 p., $22.
By Science News - Health & Medicine
MapQuest for the mouse spinal cord
The Allen Institute for Brain Science unveils an online atlas of the mouse spinal cord. The atlas is a tool for researchers studying spinal cord injury, disease and development.
- Health & Medicine
Finding the Golden Genes
Advances in gene therapy could tempt some athletes to enhance their genetic makeup, leading some researchers to work on detection methods just in case.
- Ecosystems
Tracing Tahitian vanilla
The discovery of Tahitian vanilla’s heritage could set off a custody battle between nations.
- Life
Hidden in plain view
Looking for unwavering genes rather than standouts could reveal which genes contribute to disease.
- Animals
We all sing like fish
From opera singers to toadfish, vertebrates may use basically similar circuitry for controlling vocal muscles.
By Susan Milius - Health & Medicine
X-ray vision
A new imaging technique could give scientists unprecedented views into cells and other objects at the nanoscale.
- Animals
Brains for a change
Outsized brains may have sped up evolution of body size in birds.
By Susan Milius - Life
HIV after DARC
A gene variant prevalent in people of African descent increases the risk of HIV infection but also helps slow disease progression.
- Life
Young tasmanian devil moms
Tasmanian devils have started mating much earlier in response to an epidemic, called facial tumor disease, that is wiping out much of their population.
By Tia Ghose