Evolution Roundup
Evidence suggests that an ancestor of modern humans both walked upright and climbed trees.
Dung Beetle Cooling
Dung beetles use balls of fecal matter not only for food and reproduction, but for cooling as well.
Forgetting Bad Memories
The brain has two very different mechanisms for erasing bad memories.
UV Disinfectant
Short-wave ultraviolet radiation can clear dangerous germs from hospital rooms.
Komodo Dragon Housework
Housework may be killing female Komodo dragons at an early age.
Electronic Senses Roundup
An electronic nose can sniff out sleep apnea.
Marshmallows Revisited
Children in the classic “Stanford Marshmallow Study” may have been more strategic than we thought.
Seeing Inside Fukushima
Cosmic rays called muons could help detect uranium in damaged Japanese nuclear reactors.
Amniotic Fluid Medicine
Cells from amniotic fluid can be reprogrammed more stably than traditional stem cells.
Exergame Roundup
Video "exergames" may be helping young people get more exercise.
Medicine Improves Nylon
Cancer research may have just solved a big problem for the nylon industry.
X-Ray Vision Carrots
Giving vegetables catchier names could get kids to eat more of them.
Fleeing Phytoplankton
Scientists report that plant-like organisms called phytoplankton flee their predators just like animals do.
Degradable Medical Implants
Researchers are developing temporary electronic implants that can be absorbed by the body.
Inflammation Roundup
Scientists have identified a key to the soothing qualities of mineral baths.
Blind Navigation Game
A computer game that familiarizes blind people with the layout of a virtual building makes it easier to navigate the real thing.
Malaria Heads North
Global warming may drive malaria northward in coming years.
Long-lived Eunuchs
Over several centuries in Imperial Korea, eunuchs far outlived their non-castrated counterparts.
Reversible Bee Brains
When worker bees and nurse bees switch roles, their brains get a genetic re-boot.
Healthy Viruses Roundup
Most viruses are actually harmless, and some can even help us stay healthy.
Orca Momma’s Boys
Killer whale moms live long past menopause, apparently to support and protect their adult sons.
Transparent Soil
A transparent soil substitute may lead to big strides in plant research.
Chimpanzee Brain Development
The insulation surrounding nerves develops more quickly in chimpanzees than in humans.