All Stories

Animals

First living fish leaves ‘endangered’ list

Twenty-one years ago, a minnow facing a high risk of extinction was placed on the U.S. Endangered Species List. With help from scientists, the fish appears to have largely recovered. It’s the first ‘listed’ fish to do so.

Animals

A weekend for the birds

February 14 to 17 is this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count. It offers an opportunity to not only learn about the birds in your neighborhood but also contribute to science.

Planets

New evidence of a wet Mars

Ten years in to its tour of Mars, the Opportunity rover finds another place on the Red Planet that once might have hosted water.

Life

How to reset a cell

Scientists had reported they had figured out how to turn a specialized cell into any other type of cell the body may need. All it took was an acid bath. But now in July, big doubts have emerged about the quality of that work and whether the results will hold up.

Brain

When Cupid’s arrow strikes

Scientists have begun dissecting what it means to be in love. They are finding that much of what we feel can be explained by the effects of a few key chemicals — and not just on our hearts and brains, but on our whole bodies.

Physics

Building a mirror with light

Scientists proved that lasers can be used to harness materials into a reflective surface. Some scientists ask: Can a space mirror be far away?

Health & Medicine

Many human ails are ‘scars’ of evolution

Humans suffer many physical problems that other primates don’t, from sprained ankles to hip fractures. Scientists now say you can blame these on evolution.

Brain

The weight of thought

Thinking heavy thoughts? Scientists have just put people on a balance and shown that the brain briefly gains blood — becoming a bit heavier — while concentrating.

Animals

Dissecting the dog paddle

Scientists occasionally describe the dog paddle as a “trot,” but that’s not right. When dogs swim, their complicated leg motions look more like a frantic run.