From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

  1. Health & Medicine

    Common plant could help fight Zika virus

    A teen discovered that extracts from leaves of the San Francisco plant (Codiaeum variegatum) kill larvae of the mosquito that helps spread the Zika and dengue fever viruses.

    By Sid Perkins
  2. Tech

    Control a computer with your tongue

    Thousands of severely paralyzed people could venture into cyberspace with the use of this new tongue-controlled computer mouse. It was developed by a teen.

    By Sid Perkins
  3. Animals

    Male peacocks twerk it to bring in the hens

    Scientists recorded peacocks with high-speed video cameras to learn the basic mechanics behind the shows they put on for peahens.

    By Helen Thompson
  4. Animals

    Snakes go dark to soak in the sun

    Snakes are paler in the South and darker in the North. The darker species absorb heat more quickly, a teen showed.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  5. Brain

    Dragons sleep like mammals and birds

    Lizards seem to alternate between two sleep states, just as mammals and birds do. This finding could change our understanding of how sleep evolved.

    By Sarah Schwartz
  6. Brain

    A ‘cocktail’ in the brain can trigger sleep

    A new study finds that a ‘cocktail’ of chemicals in the brain can directly cause mice to fall asleep or waken.

    By Tina Hesman Saey

  7. Taking science to the track

    An athlete took on science research with a few friends and a heart monitor.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  8. Brain

    Left brain stands guard during sleepovers

    Part of the left half of the brain remains on alert while the rest of the brain and body snooze.

    By Laura Sanders
  9. Animals

    Insects can patch their broken ‘bones’

    When insects suffer wounds, they can mend their ‘skeleton’ with a patch on the inside. This makes the leg strong again, new data show.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  10. Health & Medicine

    The cool science of hot peppers

    Why are chili peppers spicy? Why does anyone crave food that burns? Uncovering this fiery veggie’s secrets could help fight pain and obesity.

    By Kathryn Hulick
  11. Computing

    DNA can now store images, video and other types of data

    Tiny test tubes might one day replace sprawling data-storage centers, thanks to a new way to encode and retrieve information on strands of synthetic DNA.

    By Kathiann Kowalski
  12. Health & Medicine

    Explainer: When loud becomes dangerous

    Many people don’t realize that sounds — even those of the music they love — can prove harmful when they get too loud.

    By Janet Raloff
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