Pikas survive winter using a slower metabolism and, at times, yak poop
Winter on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is unfriendly to pikas. Temperatures across the barren, windy highlands routinely dip below –30° Celsius, and the grass that...
SCIENTIFIC NEWS
The latest picture of a black hole captures Centaurus A’s massive jets
The Event Horizon Telescope is expanding its portfolio of black hole images. In 2019, the telescope unveiled the first image of a black hole,...
Climate change may be leading to overcounts of endangered bonobos
Climate change is interfering with how researchers count bonobos, possibly leading to gross overestimates of the endangered apes, a new study suggests. Like other...
Only a tiny fraction of our DNA is uniquely human
The genetic tweaks that make humans uniquely human may come in small parcels interspersed with DNA inherited from extinct ancestors and cousins. Only 1.5...
Lakes of liquid water at Mars’ southern ice cap may just be mirages
Maybe hold off on that Martian ice fishing trip. Two new studies splash cold water on the idea that potentially habitable lakes of liquid...
Human cells make a soaplike substance that busts up bacteria
When faced with bacterial invaders, some human cells dispense a surprising substance: soap. These cells, which aren’t part of the immune system, unleash a...
What 20th century science fiction got right and wrong about the future of babies
Science fiction writers have imagined just about every aspect of life in some far-off future — including how humans will reproduce. And usually, their...
Insects had flashy, noise-making wings as early as 310 million years ago
Modern insects are versatile wing conversationalists. Crickets can scrape a leg against a wing or rub two wings together. Some grasshoppers beat their wings...
Millions of kids have missed routine vaccines thanks to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced millions of children around the world to miss out on important childhood vaccinations, increasing the risk of dangerous outbreaks...
Would dogs return the favor if you gave them treats? It’s complicated
Dogs may not be inclined to return favors to people, at least when it involves food. The result, published July 14 in PLOS ONE,...
Newborn screening for cancer risk could save lives. Should it be done? 
World marks second warmest July on record 
Ebola deaths top 2,000 as scientists race to develop vaccine 
South Sudan: UN mission decries deadly attacks, works to calm tensions after ‘nothing but devastation’