Technology
Gulf Oil Spill Highlights the Increasing Dependence on Deep-Sea Robots
Remotely operated subs have met with both success and failure in stanching the flow of crude, and the oil industry may need to rely on completely autonomous vehicles
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Evolution
Neandertal Genome Study Reveals That We Have a Little Caveman in Us
The sequence shows that Neandertals and modern humans interbred, and that their DNA persists in us
The Sciences
Extraterrestrial Specks in Antarctic Snow Yield New Clues to Solar System's Past
Micrometeorites buried under decades of snowfall in Antarctica preserve scraps of cosmic chemistry that hint at how organic molecules made it to Earth
The Sciences
Early Results from Large Dark Matter Detector Cast Doubt on Earlier Claims
The XENON100 detector in Italy should have been able to confirm previous dark matter signals
The Sciences
The Other Orchid Thief: Virus Ravages the Popular Flower [Slide Show]
Once the province of high society, orchids have found their way into households worldwide, but so has a plant-killing batch of viruses plaguing nurseries
Biology
Rare Mutation That Causes Mirror Movements Reflects Nervous System's Complexity
The genetic cause of mirror movements reveals how the nervous system is wired during development
Health
Are You Living in a Former Meth Lab?
Houses once used as meth labs dot the country and pose health risks to their future residents
Space & Physics
Water Ice Found on the Surface of an Asteroid for the First Time
The asteroid 24 Themis has organic material and a layer of frost, bolstering theories that asteroids could have seeded Earth with both water and the precursors to life
Evolution
Your (Very) Extended Family History [Slide Show]
A new exhibit reveals the skeletons in everyone's closet
Environment
Building a Better Biofuel: A New Carbon-Neutral Approach Turns Carbohydrates into Hydrocarbons
Turning plant sugars into gasoline with heat, pressure and catalysts
The Sciences
Are Current Fishing Regulations Misguided?
Selectively harvesting fish by species, size, gender or other traits can knock an ecosystem out of balance, according to a new analysis
Biology
Do Chimpanzees Understand Death?
Like tool use and self-awareness, distinct grief and mourning might be just one more thing we share with our closest living relatives
Medicine
Biomarker Studies Could Realize Goal of More Effective and Personalized Cancer Medicine
Finding individual differences in tumors is key to treating the right patient with the right medicine at the right time, researchers say
Mind & Brain
Sounds Make Memories Stick During Sleep
Hearing certain sounds during slumber can spur learning, according to research detailed at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society's annual meeting in Montreal
The Sciences
How Much Volcanic Ash Is Too Much for a Jet Engine?
The danger posed to airplanes by volcanic clouds is not well understood, so officials are trying to limit exposure as much as possible
Technology
Broadcasters and Wireless Providers Sound Off in Battle for TV Spectrum
The FCC calls for the opening of 500 megahertz of bandwidth for mobile, fixed and unlicensed broadband use over the next 10 years
Health
Can the Peace Drug Help Clean Up the War Mess?
At a conference last weekend, researchers reported positive results on the effectiveness of MDMA in relieving PTSD and talked about psilocybin in reducing stress in late-stage cancer patients...
Mind & Brain
Subliminal Cues Can Empty Wallets
Feelings, especially unconscious ones, can affect financial decisions, so it's a good idea to monitor your moods
The Sciences
Where Will the Next Volcanic Disruption Hit?
The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano has largely shut down air travel in Europe, but it is just an extreme version of a relatively common occurrence
Mind & Brain
Under Threat, Women Bond, Men Withdraw
A new study suggests that stress boosts women's awareness of facial expressions and emotions—but has an antisocial influence in men
