Evolution
Dinosaurs' Spiky Armor May Have Been Status Symbol
Soft-tissue patterns on a well-preserved fossil suggest that elaborate spines helped dinosaurs to attract mates and communicate
Stories by Traci Watson
Biology
Teeth Tell Tale of Hippo’s Quick Spread Across Africa
Fossils from ancient hippo ancestor suggest that grass helped the animals to conquer a continent
Evolution
Prehistoric Americans May Have Farmed Macaws in “Feather Factories”
Birds were spiritual emblems in pueblos of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico
Evolution
Ancient Bones Reveal Girl’s Tough Life in Early Americas
Teenage mother who lived 12,000 years ago was malnourished but still roamed widely
Biology
Bees Learn Soccer from Their Buddies
The insects show sophisticated learning for non-bee–related tasks, and can even improve on what they are taught
Biology
Bees Learn Soccer from Their Buddies
The insects show sophisticated learning for non-bee–related tasks, and can even improve on what they are taught
Arts & Culture
Show of Shipwrecked Treasures Raises Scientists' Ire
Archaeologists worry that a museum exhibition will encourage exploitation of priceless historical sites
Space
France Launches Massive Meteor-Spotting Network
Tracking space rocks that reach Earth will give insight into the early solar system
Arts & Culture
Intricate Animal and Flower Tattoos Found on Egyptian Mummy
Depictions of objects on a 3,000-year-old woman’s body may have had religious significance
The Sciences
Director's Departure Adds to Arecibo's Woes
Citing a communication breakdown, the radio telescope's director steps down
The Sciences
Mysterious Space Junk Will Plunge to Earth in November
The sun and moon's disruptive presence appears to have kicked WT1190F onto a path that will lead the piece of space debris to self-destruct in Earth's atmosphere
Space
NASA Drops Partnership with Private Asteroid Hunt
Space agency pulls support for Sentinel mission as decision on rival nears
Space
Private-Sector Plan to Spot Earth-Threatening Asteroids Struggles to Launch
The B612 Foundation has only raised a small fraction of the estimated cost for its proposed "Sentinel" space telescope
The Sciences
Fenced-In Lions Divide Wildlife Conservationists
Some experts say enclosures offer protection whereas others maintain they are a menace
Sustainability
Birds Protect Coffee Crop
Insectivorous species including yellow warblers cut damaging borer-beetle infestation by half in Costa Rica
The Sciences
Buddies Help Monkeys to Survive Tough Times
Barbary macaques with lots of friends are more likely to live through natural disasters than those who are less gregarious
