Cancer
How to Tell whether a Cancer Is Caused by Plain Bad Luck
A new study offers a possible answer to the question “Why me?”
Stories by Viviane Callier
Evolution
A Strange Creature Discards Genes to Make a Better Heart
The sea squirt relative demonstrates that sometimes less is more: losing genes can be adaptive
Mathematics
Simple Mathematical Law Predicts Movement in Cities around the World
A new model could help model disease transmission and urban planning
Biology
Genetic Diversity of Malaria in a Single Mosquito Bite May Be Huge
New blood tests help to track disease-causing Plasmodium strains
Behavior
Bumblebees Solve a 17th-Century Psychological Puzzle
By answering the question posed in Molyneux’s problem, the invertebrates may have demonstrated an ability to internally represent objects
Chemistry
Levitating Drugs, Star Wars Tech and a Simulated Universe: Science GIFs to Start Your Week
Enjoy and loop on
Public Health
Superslippery Toilets Squash Water Wastage
A slick coating, inspired by the carnivorous pitcher plant, could halve the liquid needed for flushing
Policy
In Science, Some Ideas Are More Contagious Than Others
An infectious disease model shows that ideas from prestigious institutions are more likely to spread farthest
Evolution
Too Small for Big Muscles, Tiny Animals Use Springs
Elastic springs help tiny animals stay fast and strong. New work is finding what size critters must be to benefit from the springs
Health
Cells Talk and Help One Another via Tiny Tube Networks
Long-overlooked “tunneling nanotubes” and other bridges between cells act as conduits for sharing RNA, proteins or even whole organelles
Biology
Insects Conquered a Watery Realm with Just 2 New Genes
Minor genetic changes can have big evolutionary consequences. When a gene duplication gave some water striders a novel leg part, it opened up a new world for them
Health
Blind Cave Fish Beat Back Diabetes Symptoms That Would Kill People
The Mexican fish may have evolved strategies that could help humans survive an epidemic disease
Medicine
Aspirin May Prevent Cancer from Spreading, New Research Shows
In addition to relieving headaches and preventing heart attacks, the drug seems to keep malignant cells from spreading
"There Aren't Qualified Minority Candidates" Is a Myth
The exponential growth in PhD's from underrepresented groups in the last 30 years has not been matched by comparable growth in hiring them
Cancer
Cancerous Coconspirators: Tumor Cells That Travel Together Spread Cancer
Contrary to expectations, most metastatic tumors are seeded not by single cells from the primary tumor but by clusters of cancer cells
Health
Cancer Cells Can't Proliferate and Invade at the Same Time
The new findings could inform cancer treatments, which typically target only cells that are dividing
