The SciencesOctober 11, 2012
The Mysterious Case of the Missing Noble Gas
Xenon has almost vanished from Earth's atmosphere. Geoscientists think it might have disappeared in space
Stories by Ewen Callaway
Ewen Callaway is a senior reporter at Nature.
October 10, 2012
Claim That Links Economic Success and Genetic Diversity Draws Criticism
Genoeconomists' use of population-genetic data to predict economic success is sparking a war of words, including charges of racism
September 10, 2012
Vaccine Trial Reveals Weak Spots in HIV's Armor
A new analysis identifies targets for an immune response that could improve AIDS vaccines
September 6, 2012
Amino-Acid Deficiency Found to Underlie Rare Form of Autism
Genetic mutations in a metabolic pathway could be fixed with protein supplements
HealthAugust 22, 2012
Older Fathers Pass On More Mutations to Children
Risks for autism and schizophrenia rise for kids of older fathers, and a new genetic study suggests why
August 17, 2012
E. Coli Strain Linked to Cancer in Mice
The DNA-damaging bacterium is found to flourish in the guts of mice with inflammatory bowel disease, putting them at higher risk for colorectal cancer
August 1, 2012
Why Great Olympic Feats Raise Suspicions
"Performance profiling" could help catch athletes who use banned performance-enhancing drugs
July 31, 2012
High-Profile Geneticists Post Findings on Popular Prepublication Site
Population biologists are turning more and more to arXiv, already popular among physicists, to gain wider readership and rapid reviews of results
July 9, 2012
Single Genetic Variant Is Linked to Multiple Sclerosis Risk
The discovery could help to improve clinical trials of potential therapies
June 8, 2012
Giant Reef Fish Head-Butt Rivals for Sex
Ramming behavior among male bump-head parrot fish, which occurs during competition for females, has been observed by humans for the first time
April 17, 2012
Gene Hunt Is On for Mental Disabilities in Children
In most cases, identifying mutations will not point to medical treatments, let alone cures. But scientists say the importance of a diagnosis should not be discounted
February 21, 2012
Alex the Parrot's Posthumous Paper Shows His Mathematical Genius
Alex and a chimpanzee named Sheba are the only nonhumans that have so far been shown to represent the numerical value of a summed set, an ability once thought to depend on language
January 12, 2012
Red-Wine Researcher Implicated in Data Misconduct Case
An investigation has found a UConn lab chief guilty of falsifying data. He denies the allegations. The lab studies wine's health benefits
EvolutionDecember 5, 2011
Chimps Experience Synesthetic Sense-Intermingling, Like Humans Do
Apes' association of tones and shades may hold clues to human synesthesia and language
EnvironmentSeptember 5, 2011
Could Stem Cells Rescue an Endangered Species?
Scientists have made reprogrammed stem cells from an endangered rhinoceros and a monkey