"Lava-Lamp" Proteins May Help Cells Cheat Death
With proteins that reversibly self-assemble into droplets, cells may control their metabolism—and harden themselves against harsh conditions
Quanta Magazine
World's Simplest Animal Reveals Hidden Diversity
The first animal genus defined purely by genetic characters represents a new era for the sorting and naming of animals
To Test Einstein's Equations, Poke a Black Hole
Researchers make significant progress toward proving a critical mathematical test of the theory of general relativity
Why Nature Prefers Couples, Even for Yeast
Some species have the equivalent of many more than two sexes, but most do not. A new model suggests the reason depends on how often they mate
Salamander's Genome Guards Secrets of Limb Regrowth
With a fully sequenced genome in hand, scientists hope they are finally poised to learn how axolotls regenerate lost body parts
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
Cores from Coral Reefs Hold Secrets of the Ocean's Past and Future
Coral skeletons have recorded changes in the ocean environment over thousands of years
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
The Elusive Calculus of Insect Altruism
A new theory may change the debate over evolution and self-interest among ants, bees and other social bugs
"Smarticle" Robot Swarms Turn Random Behavior into Collective Intelligence
New algorithms show how very simple robots can be made to work together as a group
