HS-LS2-8

Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species' chances to survive and reproduce.

  1. Health & Medicine

    Infected cutting boards

    Germs can hitchhike into the kitchen on meat and many types of produce. A new study finds that some of those germs are particularly nasty. They are immune to the one or more of the drugs doctors would prescribe to wipe out the infection.

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  2. Animals

    These insects thirst for tears

    In some parts of the world, insects will drop by for a savory beverage. Interestingly, neither a croc — nor a scientist who offered his eyes up to ‘tear-sipping’ bees — seemed bothered much by the freeloaders.

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  3. Plants

    Wily bacteria create ‘zombie’ plants

    Scientists have discovered how some plant pathogens ensure their own survival by transforming flowering plants into strictly leaf-producing ones. These green ‘zombies’ attract insects that the parasites need to help them spread to other plants.

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  4. Animals

    When a species can’t stand the heat

    When temperatures rise, New Zealand’s tuatara produce more males. With global warming, that could leave the ancient reptile species with too few females to avoid going extinct.

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  5. Animals

    Pythons seem to have an internal compass

    The giant, Burmese pythons living in Florida’s Everglades like their adopted home. And new research shows they can find their way back to it if people try to move them somewhere else. Not all snakes will do this.

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  6. Environment

    Burning to learn

    Fires cause billions of dollars of destruction to homes and forests every year. But not all fires are bad, especially for forests. With a better understanding of fire, scientists can both help people prevent dangerous fires — and identify which ones it would be better to let burn.

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  7. Environment

    Explainer: How and why fires burn

    A fire’s colorful flame results from a chemical reaction known as combustion.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    Intel STS finalist finds new flu fighters

    Intel Science Talent Search finalist Eric Chen used a computer simulation to narrow down chemical targets to fight influenza. The drugs that he identified could be the next big weapons against flu.

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  9. Animals

    Passing diseases from bee to bee

    A study finds that the viruses and parasites that plague honeybees can infect bumblebees too, sickening another important pollinator.

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  10. Health & Medicine

    Explainer: What should I know about HIV and AIDS?

    Here are some common myths and some less common facts.

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  11. Chemistry

    A plant enemy’s enemy

    Plants use chemicals to recruit help in fighting off pests.

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  12. Animals

    An elephant’s “aha!” moment

    A young elephant named Kandula passes a tricky test.

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