World Science

Newfound mechanism behind aging called a “surprising” advance
Biologists say aging may have a lot to do with a declining capacity for storage in certain cellular compartments. (Dec. 28, 2012)

Enjoy the beach: global jellyfish boom not evident, scientists say
There are 20-year cycles in jellyfish populations, but no solid evidence for a sustained increase, a study reports. (Dec. 31, 2012)

25,000 harmless bugs may inhabit your average Christmas tree
Before discarding the evergreen in your living room, you might like to examine its surprising contents, an insect expert says. (Dec. 26, 2012)

Fluctuating environment may have spurred human intelligence
A string of rapid changes in East Africa around two million years ago may have forced our ancestors to get smarter, scientists propose. (Dec. 24, 2012)

Rock/pop stars going solo found more likely to die young
Burning the candle at both ends may be a bit less harmful if you’re among friends, if a new study is any indication. (Dec. 20, 2012)

Egyptian king had throat slashed, study finds
An old papyrus document describes a plot that shook ancient Egypt, but exactly how it turned out has been uncertain. (Dec. 18, 2012)

Possibly “habitable” world called smallest yet found
New findings also suggest our own planetary system is “a bit of a freak” in its layout, one astronomer says. (Dec. 19, 2012)

Music and movement might share common structure
Experiments fit with the notion that music “recycles” brain areas that evolved for movement and speech, four scientists propose. (Dec. 17, 2012)

“Epigenetics” proposed to underlie homosexuality
Temporary “switches” influencing gene activity in our cells could solve an evolutionary riddle, scientists say. (Dec. 12, 2012)

Elephant fiasco seen as sign moving truck no “panacea” for wildlife troubles
After Sri Lankan authorities relocated some “problem” elephants, their clashes with humans just got worse, a study found. (Dec. 13, 2012)

“Right” words found to inspire environmental care in conservatives
To win over sometimes reluctant audiences, environmentalists may need to check their more cherished comfort zones at the door. (Dec. 11, 2012)

75% of African lion habitat gone, study says
Ecotourism is motivating some African governments to protect lions—but not in places where that industry is unimportant, a report notes. (Dec. 4, 2012)

Newfound protein linked to big, strong muscles
Scientists found a molecule in humans and mice that they say beefs up muscles after resistance exercise. (Dec. 7, 2012)

Did huge caverns swallow up the Martian water?
The ultimate fate of what seem to be old fluid discharges on the Red Planet has been a longstanding puzzle. (Dec. 5, 2012)

Grand Canyon dates to dinosaur era, study says
The great chasm in Arizona may be much older than was thought. (Nov. 29, 2012)

Cleaner air seen continuing to boost life expectancy
Though U.S. clean-air regulations have been tightening for a good four decades, at no small cost, they’re still paying dividends, scientists say. (Dec. 3, 2012)

Too-big black hole flummoxes scientists
A finding upsets models of galaxy formation, which assume some predictability in the sizes of black holes at the centers of galaxies. (Nov. 28, 2012)

Study: dogs link words to object sizes, not shapes
Dogs relate words to objects very differently than humans do, new research suggests. (Nov. 28, 2012)

Can you literally throw out unwanted thoughts?
When study subjects wrote thoughts on some paper and threw that away, they mentally got rid of the thoughts too, scientists claim. (Nov. 26, 2012)

That bird wants a word with you
A study suggests some parrots’ talent for imitating sounds functions, in the wild, to let them address specific individuals. (Nov. 25, 2012)

Scientists try to measure animal boredom
Giving caged animals a stimulating environment is key to their well-being—but what is adequate stimulation? (Nov. 19, 2012)

New type of bursting star may be a dud
Some stars explode only halfheartedly, a study suggests. (Nov. 21, 2012)

Happy kids found more likely to get rich
Happy adolescents are more likely to become rich or well-off adults, even after accounting for many other factors, new research indicates. (Nov. 20, 2012)

Einstein’s brain gets a new look-over
Parts of Einstein’s brain are visibly unusual, which may help account for his genius, according to a new study. (Nov. 17, 2012)

Sadness can hit your pocketbook, study finds
Your emotions can certainly influence your decisions, but you might be surprised by how much they affect your finances, scientists say. (Nov. 15, 2012)

Gene that may have helped make people smart ID'd
A gene known as miR-941 may have helped humans learn to use tools and language, scientists claim. (Nov. 14, 2012)

Are people getting dumber?
Pressure to be intelligent is weaker for people today than it was for our hunting-and-gathering ancestors, a biologist argues. (Nov. 13, 2012)

“Boom times” in star birth gone, never to return, study suggests
New results suggest 95% of stars that will ever be formed, already have been, astronomers say. (Nov. 8, 2012)

Comet collisions every 6 seconds by distant star?
Comets hit each other constantly near an unusual star in the constellation Cetus, astronomers say. (Nov. 9, 2012)

Bird wasn’t supposed to make tools, but he did
Parrots are not considered to be tool-makers or users, but evidently Figaro didn’t get that memo. (Nov. 6, 2012)

Astronomers tally leftover light from dead, living stars
A newly developed estimate of how much starlight has ever shown could help us understand cosmic history, astronomers say. (Nov. 2, 2012)

Could dinosaurs have shaped the way mammals see the world?
Mammals adapted their eyes to night vision during the Age of Reptiles—and most never totally adjusted back, a study claims. (Nov. 1, 2012)

Zombie fad seen as entry point to serious bioethics discussions
While zombies aren’t real, some scientific and ethical questions they provoke are very much so, panelists at an upcoming symposium claim. (Oct. 31, 2012)

Quitting smoking may extend life 10 years
Throwing out the cigarettes for good before middle age can add about a decade to a woman’s lifespan, a U.K. study indicates. (Oct. 28, 2012)

Stray stars may haunt vastness between galaxies
A faint glow of infrared light detected across the sky may emanate from stars that galactic history left behind. (Oct. 24, 2012)

Resveratrol found to fall short in health benefits
A chemical thought to reduce risk of heart disease and boost lifespan may not do much for healthy women, a study suggests. (Oct. 25, 2012)

Summer babies found less likely to be CEOs
Babies born in March and April have a greater shot at rising up the corporate ladder, if new research is any indication. (Oct. 23, 2012)

Deadly heat baked pre-dinosaur world: study
Vicious heat may have made huge swaths of Earth virtually unlivable for five million years following its worst mass extinction. (Oct. 19, 2012)

Too late to stop global warming by cutting emissions?
Governments shift their focus to adapting to climate change, a study claims. (Oct. 18, 2012)

An Earth-sized planet in our stellar backyard?
Astronomers have identified a planet about the same weight as Earth orbiting a star in the Alpha Centauri system. (Oct. 17, 2012)

Does true love wait? Age of first sex found to predict adult outcomes
People who have sex before age 20 experience romantic and financial life differently later on, research suggests. (Oct. 17, 2012)

Super “compact” solar system found
A surprisingly crowded planetary system is providing clues to why most solar systems seem different from ours, astronomers report. (Oct. 15, 2012)

Nasty noises: Why do we recoil at unpleasant sounds?
Nails scratching a blackboard and other disturbing noises trigger a seemingly primitive brain response, a scientist says. (Oct. 14, 2012)

Amateur rediscovers lost asteroid
A determined hobbyist made the finding in a collaboration with the European Space Agency. (Oct. 12, 2012)

Windows could capture solar energy
A flat panel added to windows could generate electricity while still letting people to see outside, researchers claim. (Oct. 11, 2012)

Giant black holes from chaotic early era coming to light
Cutting-edge sky surveys have revealed a previously unseen group of giant, fast-growing black holes, astronomers say. (Oct. 9, 2012)

Fossil said to be earliest to show complex brain
A worm-like ancestor of insects, spiders, crabs and lobsters sheds light on how brains evolved, scientists report. (Oct. 11, 2012)

Not getting sleepy? Brain scans may reveal why some can’t be hypnotized
Connections between brain cell networks account for why some are unhypnotizable, research finds. (Oct. 5, 2012)

Honor and revenge: how tribal warfare sheds light on modern conflict
Understanding tribal wars in the Amazon sheds light on the instincts that drive modern wars and the role of culture, research suggests. (Oct. 3, 2012)

Scientists measure cosmic “exit door”
Measurements at the edges of a black hole could shed light on how galaxies evolve and on the correctness of Einstein’s theories. (Oct. 4, 2012)

Genes thought to affect IQ might not
Most genes long believed to be tied to intelligence, just aren’t, new research concludes. (Oct. 2, 2012)

Signs of “ancient stream” on Mars
Scientists say a stream once ran briskly across the area of Mars where the Curiosity rover is driving. (Sept. 27, 2012)

Next moon rover could be a boat—on Titan
They’ve landed rovers on Mars. Now, say scientists, it’s time to land a boat on Titan, the hazy largest moon of Saturn. (Oct. 1 , 2012)

Slave ant “rebellions” found to be common
Ants held as slaves in nests of other ant species often damage their oppressors through sabotage, according to new research. (Sept. 27, 2012)

Street coyotes more faithful than people, study suggests
Scientists who sampled 236 coyotes in the Chicago area said they found not one case of abandoning or cheating on mates. (Sept. 25, 2012)

Scientists hijack brain cells to remote-control worms
Using lasers, scientists say they have managed to take over an animal’s brain and make the creature turn any way they want. (Sept. 24, 2012)

Pesticide link to bee dieoffs questioned
Crop pesticides are unlikely to cause recent alarming declines in honeybee populations, some scientists say. (Sept. 22, 2012)

Study suggests we can flip our opinions in moments without knowing
Using a mere trick adapted from stage magic, scientists say they exposed a surprising flexibility in human moral attitudes. (Sept. 20, 2012)

Ancient text said to suggest Christ was married
Scholars are awaiting further test results on a tantalizing papyrus fragment. (Sept. 18, 2012)

Record-distance galaxy may confirm theories
Leading cosmological theories hold that early, small galaxies merged into the big ones of today. (Sept. 20, 2012)

Common chemical linked to nearly tripled odds of youth obesity
Widely used in food packaging, bisphenol A or BPA has come under increasing scrutiny. (Sept. 18, 2012)

New monkey species identified
It is only the second new species of African monkey discovered in the last 28 years, biologists said. (Sept. 13, 2012)

Findings called clear evidence of “dry ice” snowfall on Mars
Frozen carbon dioxide drops to the ground as a sort of snowfall at the Red Planet’s southern pole, scientists report. (Sept. 14, 2012)

Scrub jays found to react to their dead
A small North American bird calls others to screech over the body of a dead bird, though no one knows quite why. (Sept. 13, 2012)

Pill may cut HIV risk as much as 99%
Research also suggests that even imperfect adherence to a daily regimen can provide a big risk reduction. (Sept. 12, 2012)

Doctors’ caring—not just care—found to matter in patient outcomes
Empathy is not just a soft and squishy concept: it leads to measurably better results, research suggests. (Sept. 10, 2012)

Silver and gold come from bursting stars—different types, study finds
Measurements of various heavy stars were used to reconstruct how elements were formed within them. (Sept. 7, 2012)

“Supergel” could replace damaged joint cartilage
A gel that can stretch up to 21 times is original length without breaking has potential where other materials have failed, scientists say. (Sept. 9, 2012)

“Dark matter” may give off an already-seen signal, physicists say
A mysterious substance filling the universe may shed its usual invisibility in certain cases, some physicists claim. (Sept. 5, 2012)

Most “junk” DNA not junk, studies find
The vast majority of our DNA is active in at least one type of cell, according to biologists who made public a series of new studies. (Sept. 5, 2012)

Tasmanian devil may be saved by a bit less devilishness
Evolving to become less aggressive could be key to saving the famously ferocious Tasmanian devil from extinction, research suggests. (Sept. 3, 2012)

“Cyborg” tissues may become reality
Harvard scientists say they have created a “cyborg” human tissue that incorporates a network of functional wires. (Aug. 31, 2012)

Does wisdom really come with age? It may depend on the culture
A study investigated wisdom as manifested through conflict resolution skills. (Aug. 31, 2012) (Aug. 31, 2012)

Eating far less doesn’t extend monkey lives, study finds
A 23-year project was designed to show whether effects found in rodents would extend to a species more closely related to humans. (Aug. 30, 2012) (Aug. 30, 2012)

Arctic sea ice measured at record low
The blanket of ice floating on the Arctic Ocean has melted to its lowest extent since satellites began measuring it, scientists say. (Aug. 27, 2012)

Chimps found to develop “social traditions”
Scientists investigated varying styles of mutual grooming among groups of chimps. (Aug. 29, 2012)

Spacetime: A smoother brew than we knew?
The fabric of the cosmos may be less like beer than like smooth whiskey, if some new findings are any indication. (Aug. 23, 2012)

Scientists see evidence of planet destroyed by parent star
A Jupiter-like planet was engulfed after its aging host star began expanding into a “red giant,” astronomers say. (Aug. 21, 2012)

Dad’s advancing age gives newborns two extra mutations per year, study finds
Researchers say the findings could have implications for population-wide health. (Aug. 22, 2012)

Birth of the universe: “Big Chill” instead of Big Bang?
Some physicists say investigating the cracks and crevices found in crystals could revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos. (Aug. 20, 2012)

Chunk of protein explains our big brains, study proposes
big brains, study proposes
Researchers have found what they think is the key to understanding why the human brain is larger and more complex than that of other animals. (Aug. 18, 2012)

Lost letter experiment suggests rich London neighborhoods more altruistic
Anthropologists measured helpfulness in 20 neighborhoods by dropping letters on the ground. (Aug. 16, 2012)

Findings could sharpen view of first stars
Astronomers could peer a good deal further into space—and back into the history of time—by using a new approach, research suggests. (Aug. 14, 2012)

Study said to crack mystery of “monster” stars
Four stars whose size has defied explanation turn out to have been formed thanks to stellar mergers, scientists report. (Aug. 11, 2012)

Drive to rein in bullies led to evolution of morality, study suggests
People may help each other because our distant ancestors learned to band together to control bullies, a new study proposes. (Aug. 13, 2012)

No shortage of dark matter in Sun’s neighborhood, study claims
A new study contradicts other recent work suggesting there is almost no “dark matter” near the Sun. (Aug. 9, 2012)

Rover sends new images from Red Planet
Curiosity’s landing site is starting to come into focus, NASA scientists say. (Aug. 6, 2012)

Human lineage had diverse offshoots, study finds
At least two different species of humans lived alongside our own ancestors in Africa almost two million years ago, scientists report. (Aug. 8, 2012)

Successful landing for newest Mars rover
Cheers burst out at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Sunday evening. (Aug. 4, 2012)

Earth vaporized in simulations
An unusual computer model could help scientists better understand newly discovered planets. (Aug. 3, 2012)

Global warming probably causing heat waves, study says
Recent heat waves and extreme summers were likely caused by man-induced global warming, a study reports. (Aug. 5, 2012)

Spate of recent big quakes looks like a fluke, scientists say
The past decade has been plagued with what seems to be a cluster of large earthquakes. (Aug. 2, 2012)

Slimy bacterial colonies may have met their match
Slimy, wily bacterial colonies that have been outsmarting human attempts to clean them off may no longer have a ground to stand on. (Aug. 1, 2012)

Smiling lowers heart rate, relieves stress, research finds
Feeling good usually makes us smile—but does it really work the other way around as well? (July 31, 2012)

No LOL matter: Tween texting may lead to poor grammar skills
Text messaging could lead to declining language skills, according to researchers. (July 27, 2012)

Seats of self-awareness in brain revealed anew—through sleep, researchers say
Scientists have taken a new tack to finding out which parts of our brain handle self-awareness. (July 30, 2012)

Birds, children show similar abilities for “Aesop’s fable” riddle
Children before age eight perform comparably to some birds on a simple and famous puzzle, psychologists say. (July 26, 2012)

“Virtual cell” seen as unlocking new potential for discovery
The first complete computer model of an organism might lead to a new sort of Human Genome Project, some scientists predict. (July 24, 2012)

Physics hints at truth in epics of old
Scientists have found that some of the most famous historical myths—including the Iliad—exhibit measurably realistic qualities. (July 25, 2012)

“Weirdly Earth-like” rivers adorn Saturn moon
Rivers of liquid methane creeping across Titan look eerily familiar, but carry some mysteries, scientists say. (July 23, 2012)

“Grand” spiral galaxy formed too early, reshuffles thinking
Just how spiral galaxies form is not a well-settled question. (July 19, 2012)

Why people participate in atrocities: mere obedience, or something more?
A prevailing view among psychologists may let people off the hook a little too easily, new research suggests. (July 29, 2012)

Long-running Pioneer spacecraft mystery may be explained
The standard laws of physics have won the day as astronomers seek to account for a puzzling slowdown. (July 18, 2012)

“Old boys’ network” seen in monkeys
Call it sexist—but for white-faced capuchin monkeys, it’s a way of life, scientists say. (July 16, 2012)

The middle items win the votes of our wallets, study finds
Consumers are unknowingly more likely to choose products that sit in the horizontal center of a display, a new study indicates. (July 17, 2012)

Size of brain area linked to willingness to give
The size of a small brain region influences one’s predisposition for altruistic behavior, a study has found. (July 14, 2012)

Fifth Pluto moon found
A new discovery could shed light on Pluto’s history and help a spacecraft navigate through its area. (July 12, 2012)

“Ghost galaxies” seen as cosmic relics
Small galaxies with almost no stars may be clues to big cosmic questions, astronomers propose. (July 10, 2012)

Lifespan boost might be harder for couch potatoes—at least for now
There may be an overlooked requirement in the much-ballyhooed strategy of living longer by eating less, biologists report. (July 9, 2012)

Much-sought “Goldilocks” black hole identified through its belching
Outbursts of scalding gas have clinched the identity of the first known “middleweight” black hole, astronomers say. (July 5, 2012)

Huge stellar dust cloud vanishes, leaving only questions
Astronomers are scratching their heads over a baffling discovery. (July 6, 2012)

Long-sought Higgs particle probably found, scientists say
The long journey to detect a key building block of nature might finally have reached its goal, physicists report. (July 4, 2012)

How tomatoes lost their flavor
Breeders have unknowingly bred the flavor out of tomatoes by favoring those with a nice uniform color, scientists are reporting. (June 29, 2012)

Feathers may have been common on dinosaurs
A newfound fossil suggests feathers might have graced all predatory dinosaurs, scientists say. (July 2, 2012)

Water ran deep on ancient Mars, scientists say
Rocks tossed out of impact craters help reveal what once went on deep underground. (June 28 , 2012)

Human ancestor ate bark, study finds
Next time you’re grumbling about a stale cookie or a steak that tastes “like cardboard,” count yourself lucky. (June 27, 2012)

Much maligned, vultures now missed as Asia populations collapse
Cambodia is a last bastion of vultures in Asia after many of them have died from ingesting a drug meant for cattle, researchers say. (June 26, 2012)

Life forms survive space exposure
New research on the International Space Station is helping to boost theories that life came from outer space. (June 25, 2012)

Religion: It’s the hell part that makes us behave, study finds
The more punitive aspects of religion are associated with lower crime rates, research indicates. (June 22, 2012)

In planetary odd couple, two worlds within plain sight distance of each other
New findings are surprising astronomers with just how diverse solar systems can be. (June 22, 2012)

Some “poor memory” might just reflect disinterest
Your problem with remembering names might have an unexpected source, a psychologist claims. (June 20, 2012)

Ancient effect harnessed to get electricity from waste heat
A phenomenon noted by an ancient Greek philosopher has become the basis for a new invention. (June 20, 2012)

Could Neanderthals have painted?
New date estimates on some ancient cave artworks raise intriguing possibilities, scientists say. (June 14, 2012)

Causes of mammoth extinction resonate in modern realities, scientists say
The pressures that finished off the woolly mammoth are similar to those that are killing many animals today, a study suggests. (June 13, 2012)

Watching tiny, living machines assemble themselves
Scientists have devised a new way to see how proteins, tiny machines naturally built inside our bodies, come together. (June 11, 2012)

Concept of “cool” has warmed, veered from its origins, study finds
The popular concept of “cool” in some ways stands for the near-opposite of what it used to mean, new research concludes. (June 8, 2012)

Can whole economies be psychoanalyzed?
Western economies displayed “manic” behavior leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, a researcher says. (June 6, 2012)

First cosmic objects burned brightly, astronomers say
A faint, lumpy glow from the first objects may have been detected with the best precision yet. (June 7, 2012)

“Ring of fire” to offer clues about Venus, our hellish twin planet
When Venus passes in front of the Sun on June 5 and 6, an armada of telescopes will be on the lookout for something elusive. (June 5, 2012)

Scientists: birds are just baby dinosaurs, in a way
There might be a good reason birds are so much cuter and less threatening than their scary ancestors. (May 31, 2012)

Rats reported cured of spine injury paralysis
Using a chemical cocktail and a robotic aid, scientists say they’ve helped paralyzed rats train themselves to become “athletes.” (June 1, 2012)

Immune system cells found to hunt like real predators
T cells move around like sharks in many ways as they track down pathogens, a study has found. (May 30, 2012)

Hereditary inequality may date to Stone Age
Researchers have found that farmers buried with tools had access to better land than others in Central Europe. (May 29, 2012)

“Sexual revolution” may have paved way for invention of marriage
A new alliance between women and low-ranking males was key to forging the modern family, calculations by a biologist suggest. (May 29, 2012)

Your environmental exposures might haunt your great-grandchildren
Scientists have found increased stress sensitivity and differences in weight gain in rats three generations after exposure to a specific chemical. (May 23, 2012)

Stem cells found to relieve tough chronic pain in mouse study
Stem-cell transplants might quell the hardest-to-treat kinds of pain, scientists report, though such an advance could also raise ethical dilemmas. (May 25, 2012)

Study: soldiers who desecrate dead bodies see themselves as hunters
Battle stress is not the main reason some soldiers end up hacking off enemy body parts, a researcher claims. (May 21, 2012)

Life might have formed as early as 10-12 billion years ago
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away” may be more than just a line from science fiction, if new research is correct. (May 21, 2012)

Planet may be turning to dust
Astronomers have detected what they say could be a planet that’s evaporating under the searing heat of its parent star. (May 19, 2012)

Robotic arm for the paralyzed reported to reach new level of sophistication
A study reports that two paralyzed people controlled a robotic arm through brain signals picked up by a computer system. (May 17, 2012)

“Smart swimming,” magnetism said to help baby turtles through epic journey
Young sea turtles barely longer than a thumb undertake one of the most spectacular migrations in the animal kingdom—alone. (May 16, 2012)

Instead of “dark matter,” rogue planets?
Weeks after studies questioned the leading theory to explain vast amounts of missing cosmic material, other research proposes a radical new solution. (May 13, 2012)

Ape at war with gawkers found even shrewder than thought
Watch out, visitors. Santino the rock-throwing zoo chimp is adapting his tactics, according to some very intrigued scientists. (May 11, 2012)

When humans were smaller, and crocs much bigger
Although dinosaurs never coexisted with humans, maybe they didn’t need to. (May 9, 2012)

Holy cow! Dino flatulence may have changed ancient climate
Cattle are no match for dinosaurs when it comes to releasing greenhouse gases, researchers report. (May 7, 2012)

Light from “Super-Earth” reported seen
Though the world is inhabitable, scientists call detection of its infrared light a big step toward the search for signs of life on other planets. (May 9, 2012)

Pet scan indeed: Scientists map brain activity in dogs
When your pet gazes up at you, what does it see? A best friend? A can opener? Scientists hope brain imaging could answer that and more. (May 7, 2012)

Unexpected allies aid ants at war with “zombifying” parasite
A group of parasites known as Ophiocordyceps hijack ants' brains and direct them to their deaths. (May 4, 2012)

Black hole caught red-handed in stellar homicide?
Astronomers say they have gathered the most direct evidence yet of a giant black hole shredding a star that got too close. (May 2, 2012)

Rare Venus event could aid planet-hunters, delight sky-watchers
Venus will pass across the face of the Sun next month, in an event not to recur until 2117. (May 1, 2012)

Art appreciation, self-reflection may go together in the brain
Intense aesthetic experiences activate a brain region associated with inward contemplation, scientists say. (April 26, 2012)

Violence may mar kids’ DNA with signs of aging
Children who have suffered violence might truly be older than their years, if new research is correct. (April 24, 2012)

Wall of stars found to extend through our galaxy
A newly detected structure poses a fresh problem for the theory of dark matter, astronomers claim. (April 26, 2012)

Mystery of cosmic rays deepens
Subatomic projectiles from space don’t seem to come from great cosmic explosions after all, physicists have announced. (April 23, 2012)

Where’s the dark matter? Not here, befuddled astronomers admit
Indispensable to modern physical theories, “dark matter” has turned up missing in our own cosmic back yard. (April 18, 2012)

Your left side is your best side, researchers find
In a study, images of the left side of the face were perceived and rated as more pleasant than those of the right side. (April 22, 2012)

No single “God spot” in brain, scientists find
Multiple parts of the human brain contribute to spirituality, a study indicates. (April 20, 2012)

Penguin census, taken from space, yields surprise
A new study using satellite mapping reveals there are twice as many emperor penguins in Antarctica as previously thought, scientists say. (April 16, 2012)

Homeless planets may get adopted
There may be hope yet for those worlds that are wandering in the cold without a home star, a study suggests. (April 17, 2012)

In bird “divorce,” females seen having the advantage
Divorce might not be healthy—but at least it may be natural, if findings from a new study are to be believed. (April 14, 2012)

“Robotic cat” illness mystifies vets
Scientists are on the hunt for a pathogen they say may be causing a mystery illness: cats are starting to walk like robots. (April 12, 2012)

Tumor risk from dental X-rays not eliminated, study finds
Research has linked dental X-rays to an increased risk of a rare, usually benign brain tumor. (April 11, 2012)

2nd study links pesticide to bee epidemic
Mysterious collapses of honeybee populations may be explained, scientists say. (April 5, 2012)

Scientist hopes to help you create “perfect dream”
A new study is designed to use iPhones to improve people’s dreams. (April 10, 2012)

After anesthesia, “primitive” consciousness awakens first
Brain structures that we share with many animals go into action first as awareness emerges, research finds. (April 4, 2012)

Link between fast food, depression “confirmed”
A new study supports past research tying fast food consumption to a greater risk of depression. (April 2, 2012)

Coupled stars seen as chief diet for hungry black holes
Black holes at the hearts of galaxies may grow by swallowing single stars from pairs of stars, a new study proposes. (April 4, 2012)

Dinosaurs may have roamed a fiery landscape
In the later part of their reign, dinosaurs may have faced an unexpected hazard: fire, researchers are reporting. (March 30, 2012)

Earth-like planets could number “billions” in our galaxy
Red dwarf stars host an abundance of worlds that could hold liquid water, astronomers report. (March 29, 2012)

Planets from long ago puzzle astronomers
Scientists have identified a planetary system that they describe as a likely survivor from one of the earliest cosmic times. (March 28, 2012)

All cattle descend from one small herd, study finds
Living cattle descend from as few as 80 animals domesticated from wild oxen in the Near East some 10,500 years ago, a DNA analysis suggests. (March 27, 2012)

Dolphins may be dying due to U.S. oil spill, study finds
Dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico are showing signs of severe ill health, according to preliminary findings from a U.S. agency. (March 26, 2012)

New wide image of universe called unprecedented
A panoramic image is the most detailed picture taken of a region large enough to be representative of the distant universe, astronomers say. (March 22, 2012)

Feeding babies on demand may improve IQ
Infants fed whenever they want may later perform better in school than those who were fed on a schedule, new research suggests. (March 21, 2012)

Two words may help people brush off temptation
People who resist temptation by telling themselves “I don’t” rather than “I can’t” are more successful in their quest, new research suggests. (March 17, 2012)

Spotting ancient sites from space
An archaeologist and a computer scientist say they have greatly simplified the process of finding early human settlements. (March 19, 2012)

Newer generations increasingly selfish, study finds
Money, appearances and fame are indeed the idols of our time, new research suggests. (March 16, 2012)

Device makes 3-D objects with “nano-precision”
A technology for printing three-dimensional objects with incredibly fine detail now works faster than ever, researchers say. (March 12, 2012)

Pesticide linked to bee die-offs
New research has linked part of a mysterious bee malady called colony collapse disorder to a technology for planting corn. (March 15, 2012)

Old-fashioned ripoffs common in organ trade: study
A study in Bangladesh found that black-market organ trafficking is more sinister than commonly assumed. (March 13, 2012)

Bird-like dino had glossy plumage for the ladies, research suggests
The discovery of a four-winged dinosaur in 2003 has fueled a stream of questions about the evolution of feathers and flight. (March 8, 2012)

Additional evidence of elusive “God particle”
The findings on the long-sought Higgs boson are still not definitive, physicists caution. (March 7, 2012)

Did the Moon help doom the Titanic?
An exceedingly rare astronomical event stacked the deck against the ill-fated ship, astronomers propose. (March 7, 2012)

Personality found surprisingly changeable
Personality changes are more common than previously known, and can lead to big boosts in happiness, scientists say. (March 5, 2012)

“Oldest” fossilized forest revealed
A fossil forest in upstate New York is not only the oldest known—it’s also much more complex than once thought, researchers are reporting. (March 3, 2012)

In dinosaur age, fleas were giant too
A new report details the discovery of what scientists call the most ancient known fleas. (March 1, 2012)

Wealthy people found more prone to unscrupulous behavior
Upper-class folk lie and cheat more, largely because they think greed is fine; but the poor can be easily led into the same mindset, research suggests. (Feb. 28, 2012)

Trophy for toughest bite may go to T. rex
The terrifying dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex may have had an even stronger bite than previously realized, scientists say. (Feb. 28, 2012)

Galaxy may swarm with “nomad planets”
Our galaxy may be awash in homeless planets, wandering through space instead of orbiting a star, researchers say. (Feb. 27, 2012)

Where the wild things aren’t? Nature seen vanishing from kids’ books
A disturbing trend in children’s literature parallels developments in the wider world, scientists say. (Feb. 23, 2012)

Madness may now be easier to break free of
A computerized training course can markedly help people suffering from schizophrenia, research reports. (Feb. 22, 2012)

Rightie? You might prefer people that are at your right
A string of recent research findings point to seemingly irrelevant considerations that sway our thinking. (Feb. 21, 2012)

Single-atom transistor could revolutionize electronics
Physicists say they’ve paved the way for future leaps in computing power. (Feb. 19, 2012)

Implantable microchip can deliver meds, study finds
A clinical trial tested the first device of its kind with success, researchers say. (Feb. 15, 2012)

In night sky, a delayed replay of cataclysm seen in 1830s
When if first happened, cameras were barely invented. Astronomers are now better prepared. (Feb. 18, 2012)

Tiny chameleons turn up in Madagascar
Scientists documented one species that grows to less than an inch long and can fit on a match head when young. (Feb. 15, 2012)

The fish that piranhas leave alone
Engineers are studying what makes Arapaima’s scales so bite-resistant in hopes of developing better battle armor. (Feb. 9, 2012)

Liars may be identifiable through their writing, too
Online dating might just get a bit easier if participants learn a few sleuthing tricks, new research suggests. (Feb. 13, 2012)

A simpler name may help you get ahead
Having a simple, easy-to-pronounce name may help you win you friends and favor in the workplace, new research suggests. (Feb. 11, 2012)

New, “strong” evidence for ancient ocean on Mars
Radar imaging reveals apparent ocean water deposits within the bounds of previously noted, ancient shorelines, researchers say. (Feb. 7, 2012)

Fasting found to help beat cancer in mice
Nutrient deprivation may turn cancer cells’ relentless drive to reproduce into their own Achilles heel, scientists suggest. (Feb. 8, 2012)

Scientists reconstruct sound from dinosaur age
A clean, high-pitched “ping” or chirp seems to pierce the air when you replay a reconstruction by scientists of an extinct cricket’s song. (Feb. 5, 2012)

Earlier treatment might be key in Alzheimer’s: researchers
The devastating memory illness spreads through links between brain regions, a bit like cancer, research suggests. (Feb. 3, 2012)

From tiny to titanic in 24 million generations
It takes eons for a mouse-sized animal to evolve to an elephant’s size, but reductions in size go much faster, scientists say. (Jan. 31, 2012)

Mice sing too, scientists find
Male house mice produce melodious songs to attract mates, not unlike many birds, according to new research. (Jan. 27, 2012)

Arabia identified as key stop in early human migrations
Arabia was the first staging post for humans when they first migrated out of their ancestral home of Africa, scientists say. (Jan. 28, 2012)

Leftists and rightists found to look at things differently—literally
It’s increasingly apparent that political differences stem partly from biological ones, researchers claim. (Jan. 25, 2012)

Study: Lifelong criminality may stem from genes
The link between genes and crime is a divisive issue in the criminology field. (Jan. 26, 2012)

“Oldest known” dino nesting site found
A practice of using the same nesting sites repeatedly and in groups may have originated earlier than previously known, scientists say. (Jan. 24, 2012)

Comet dies on film, leaving trail of mystery
A comet has been caught doing something never seen before: die a scorching death in the heat of the sun. (Jan. 22, 2012)

Empathy? It seems we can’t even spare it for ourselves
An “empathy gap” between us and our future selves leads us to overestimate how much courage we’ll muster, scientists propose. (Jan. 20, 2012)

Scientists plan to take picture of black hole
A endeavor that a few years ago would have been regarded as outrageous is now very realistic, astronomers claim. (Jan. 18, 2012)

Ancient South Americans ate popcorn, study finds
People along the coast of modern-day Peru may have been crunching on popcorn more than 3,000 years ago. (Jan. 19, 2012)

European birds seen falling behind in race to adapt to warmer world
Birds seem to be shifting their home ranges much less than some of the insects they feed on, scientists report. (Jan. 17, 2012)

Newfound frog dubbed tiniest known backboned animal
A newly discovered frog grows to no more than 9 mm, or about 1/3 of an inch, long, biologists say. (Jan. 11, 2012)

Ill-designed economic bailouts threaten nature, advocates warn
Hard put to re-ignite business activity, beleaguered politicians are reported to be tossing aside environmental safeguards. (Jan. 13, 2012)

New materials may vacuum up CO2, culprit in global warming
Climate scientists say scrubbing dangerous excess carbon dioxide from the air is a fundamental challenge of our century. (Jan. 13, 2012)

Violin shocker? Blind test said to show “old master” fiddles not so special
Generations of musicians have revered violins made by a handful of 18th-century craftsmen, most famously Antonio Stradivari. (Jan. 5, 2012)

Bad-boy looks are measurable and may really predict bad deeds, study concludes
New research may upset decades of settled scientific thinking. (Jan. 7, 2011)

Antarctic seafloor geyser found hosting strange community
A new report highlights how little is still known about the odd ecology of deep-sea vents. (Jan. 4, 2012)

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