Life
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GeneticsScientists Say: Genealogy
This is the study of someone’s ancestry. It could mean finding out about someone’s family tree or the history of evolution from one species to another.
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AnimalsYes, cats know their own names
Cats can tell their names apart from other spoken words. A new study supports what cat owners the world over had suspected.
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AnimalsBears that eat human ‘junk food’ may hibernate less
Wild black bears snacking on leftovers of sugary, highly processed foods show possible signs of faster cellular wear.
By Susan Milius -
AnimalsPaleontologists find the first fossilized egg inside an ancient bird
For the first time, paleontologists have found an unlaid egg inside an ancient bird fossil. That egg may have caused its mother’s death.
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AnimalsDesert kangaroo rats ninja-kick attacking rattlesnakes
High-speed cameras reveal desert kangaroo rats’ lightning-fast defensive moves.
By Mike Denison -
AnimalsA new fossil shows how hagfish went back to basics
A new fossil hagfish shows these animals aren’t as primitive as researchers had assumed.
By Riley Black -
BrainPeople may indeed have a sixth sense — for magnetism
People may process information about Earth’s magnetic field without knowing it, a study of brain waves suggests.
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AnimalsWhen parenting goes cuckoo
Brood parasites are animals that trick another species into raising their young. This is known among birds, fish and insects.
By Roberta Kwok -
GeneticsShaking hands could transfer your DNA — leaving it on things you never touched
After a long handshake, the DNA you trade could end up on things you never touched.
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AnimalsThe smell of fear may make it hard for dogs to track some people
Genes and stress may change someone’s scent, confusing search dogs.
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BrainArt can make science easier to remember
Students who learn science using art remember what they learned longer than those in regular classes.
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EcosystemsScientists Say: Wetland
Wetlands are land areas that are flooded with water some or all of the time. They’re more than just wet, though. They filter water, shelter young animals and much more.