Multiple scientists are working to grow corn that can fertilize itself, bypassing the need for nitrogen-based fertilizers that can harm the environment. ...read more

Researchers tap a treasure trove of observations in social media posts by amateur photographers. ...read more

As suicide rates reach new heights, researchers launch a quest to identify the genetic basis of the disorder. ...read more

Two scientists realize that before you can find out how dragonflies migrate, you have to catch them. ...read more

The proliferation of wells in some states is starving local streams and rivers. ...read more

Our genes might play a role in influencing who falls prey to addiction. ...read more

Mars' Gale Crater once held a lake of liquid water. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/MSSS) Mars was a very different place as a young planet. Liquid water dotted the Red Planet’s landscape with lakes and rivers. But the planet’s climate changed drastically in the past few billion years. Today, scientists see the remains of the planet’s bodies of water in dried-up river channels and salts left in its rocks. Now, new data from the Curiosity rover show that the pl ...read more

The Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite of our Milky Way, may be well-suited for the evolution of life. (Credit: John A Davis/Shutterstock) Where in the universe can life evolve? When scientists discuss this question, they’re usually talking about what kinds of planets might support life. But some researchers are thinking bigger. In recent years, astronomers have been investigating whether some types of galaxies are more hospitable to life than others. Unsurprisingly, most researche ...read more

A horned bull from a control group is flanked by two hornless offspring of a genome-edited bull. (Credit: Alison Van Eenennaam) In promising news for dairy farmers, researchers have bred what are likely the first offspring from a genome-edited bull. The calves were born without horns, a trait that occurs naturally in cattle but was given to their father via previous DNA-editing research. The offspring were otherwise normal and healthy, the authors report Monday in Nature Biotechnology. I ...read more

Does working out on a vibrating plate help make us stronger? (Credit: Alliance Images) Can we vibrate ourselves healthy? That's the premise behind a form of therapy called Whole Body Vibration, or WBV. Proponents argue that subjecting our bones and muscles to rapid vibrations makes them stronger, much in the same way exercise does. The idea is simple: Standing on a vibrating plate forces our muscles to do work. This low-grade stress ultimately leads to strength gains and weight loss. Some ...read more