Life

  1. Humans

    Becoming human

    Two new studies suggest that during ice ages, steep drops in temperature may have sent ancient species moving to more temperate, or mild, areas. As a result, these species would have been isolated from other populations.

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  2. Environment

    Suffocating waters

    Coastal animals around the world are spending more time in or around waters with too little oxygen.

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  3. Fossils

    Dino drama

    Scientists study skulls to determine whether Triceratops and Torosaurus were two different species.

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  4. Fossils

    Early toehold on land

    A five-toed fossil now holds the record for smallest, oldest foot ever found.

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  5. Plants

    Ancient flower blooms again

    Scientists have found the fruit of an ancient plant that had been frozen underground in Siberia — a region covering central and eastern Russia — for about 31,800 years. Using pieces of the fruit, the scientists grew plants in a lab. The new blooms have delicate white petals. They are also the oldest flowering plants that researchers have ever revived from a deep freeze.

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  6. Animals

    Can’t touch this: Unusual venomous creatures

    Scientists study a cast of creatures to learn how to use toxins to treat pain and disease.

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  7. Animals

    Speedy sharkskin

    Tiny, toothlike bumps boost sharks’ swiftness.

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  8. Animals

    Fishy chatter

    Scientists record unidentified noises in the deep sea.

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  9. Animals

    Costs of missing sleep

    Some fruit flies do fine without sleep, as long as they’ve got enough to eat.

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  10. Animals

    Pythons overtake Everglades

    In southern Florida, giant snakes change the ecosystem one meal at a time.

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  11. Microbes

    Killing a bacterial killer

    A common, cheap element offers hope against deadly bacterial infections.

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  12. Animals

    No frostbite for dogs

    Blood vessels in dog paws keep their temperature just right.

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