Life

  1. Animals

    Cool Jobs: Museum science

    Samples collected long ago may hold answers to important questions in science and medicine today.

    By Sharon Oosthoek
  2. Animals

    Oldest bird is new mom

    At 62, albatross hatches a healthy chick.

    By Allison Bohac
  3. Brain

    Concussion: More than ‘getting your bell rung’

    This common brain injury can cause serious — and lasting — damage.

    By Alison Pearce Stevens
  4. Animals

    Feeling the invisible

    Sensor wired into a rat’s brain lets it detect light it can’t see.

    By Sid Perkins
  5. Ecosystems

    Predators as climate helpers

    In lakes and streams, fish and insects can help protect aquatic plants that gobble up greenhouse gas.

    By Janet Raloff
  6. Animals

    Fancy feather gene

    A tweak in a single pigeon gene causes a distinct feather formation.

    By Stephen Ornes
  7. Computing

    Genetic memory

    DNA is a chemical blueprint that effectively instructs cells on how to work.

    By Stephen Ornes
  8. Animals

    Killer cats

    Puss may pose the single biggest threat to birds.

    By Stephen Ornes
  9. Planets

    Home on the moon

    Astronomers say rocky moons orbiting distant planets might support alien life.

    By Stephen Ornes
  10. Fossils

    Dino-sized poop

    Ewww: Scientists use poop from living animals to estimate the size of dung dropped by T. rex and other dinos.

    By Sid Perkins
  11. Brain

    Baby brain, adult disease

    Scientists find signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the brains of infants.

    By Stephen Ornes
  12. Animals

    Cool Jobs: Delving into dung

    Scientists uncover fascinating secrets through the study of animal feces.

    By Roberta Kwok