Life

Plants

Magnets mimic gravity’s guiding hand for plants growing in space

Without constant gravity, plants waste energy twisting and coiling, trying to reach toward the sun. Teen ISEF finalists might have found a solution.

Brain

Brain cells that make you feel full also make you crave dessert

If you want a sweet treat when you feel full after a big meal, blame your brain. Tests in mice and people suggest that the same cells signal satiety and a hunger for sugar.

Animals

Sheep, llamas and goats fall for optical illusions too

These findings could help reveal when and why falling for optical illusions evolved in animals.

Brain

Parakeets talk using brain areas similar to ours

Brain activity during vocalizing in small parrots — called budgerigars or parakeets — shows a similar pattern to what’s seen in people.

Animals

Freshwater fish are in trouble: Here’s how we can help them

Human activities threaten the survival of many freshwater fish species. Research is now pointing to how we can best overcome those threats.

Plants

For some trees, acting as lightning rods helps them survive

Being struck by lightning is usually bad. But for one tropical tree, a mighty zap can kill rivals and parasitic vines.

Space

Is the International Space Station too clean?

Testing surfaces on board the space station revealed low microbial diversity, something that’s been linked to health problems elsewhere.

Plants

Let’s learn about plant movement

Some plants use their powers of superspeed to spread spores, while others use it to snatch up prey.

Animals

Some iguanas may have rafted across the Pacific 30 million years ago

The iguanas' epic 8,000-kilometer trip — one-fifth of Earth’s circumference — may be the longest made by a flightless land vertebrate.

Fossils

Could Spinosaurus swim? That would make it a game changer

Spinosaurus fossils are challenging the longstanding claim that ancient dinosaurs were never fully aquatic. And some paleontologists still aren’t convinced.

Animals

Some fish have legs that can taste prey underfoot

Taste buds on those legs may explain why northern sea robins are so good at finding food that is buried in the sandy seafloor.

Animals

Scientists Say: Exoskeleton

This plate armor provides protection to insects, spiders and more. But that benefit comes with tradeoffs.