Snuff tubes uncovered at Chavin de Huantar in Peru reveal how leaders used mystical experiences to cement their power.
Gorilla study reveals complex pros and cons of friendship
Friendship comes with complex pros and cons -- possibly explaining why some individuals are less sociable, according to a new study of gorillas.
Saving the Asian ‘unicorn’ — if it still exists
The saola, an antelope-like bovine, is one of the world's rarest and most endangered mammals. In fact, it hasn't been observed in over 10 years. Researchers have now mapped the saola's complete genome, and they have used that knowledge to estimate the chances of saving it -- if it still...
Are at-home water tests worth it? New study shows quality can vary widely
For the cautious -- or simply curious -- homeowner, an at-home water testing kit may seem reassuring. But there are high levels of variability between test kits' abilities to detect potential contaminants in water, a new study has found.
Targeting gluten: researchers delete proteins in wheat harmful to people with celiac disease
Deleting a cluster of genes in wheat may reduce wheat allergies without harming breadmaking, finds anew study.
Traditional forest medicinal plant ghost pipe used differently today
Despite a long history of traditional medicinal use in the United States, the collection, consumption and efficacy of the peculiar forest plant aptly named ghost pipe, scientific name Monotropa uniflora, remains a mystery. Now, with social media and the internet driving a resurgence in the harvest and economic trade of...
Antivenom neutralizes the neurotoxins of 19 of the world’s deadliest snakes
By using antibodies from a human donor with a self-induced hyper-immunity to snake venom, scientists have developed the most broadly effective antivenom to date, which is protective against the likes of the black mamba, king cobra, and tiger snakes in mouse trials. The antivenom combines protective antibodies and a small...
Electricity-generating bacteria may power future innovations
A team has discovered how certain bacteria breathe by generating electricity, using a natural process that pushes electrons into their surroundings instead of breathing on oxygen. The findings could enable new developments in clean energy and industrial biotechnology.
Ptero firma: Footprints pinpoint when ancient flying reptiles conquered the ground
A new study links fossilized flying reptile tracks to animals that made them. Fossilized footprints reveal a 160-million-year-old invasion as pterosaurs came down from the trees and onto the ground. Tracks of giant ground-stalkers, comb-jawed coastal waders, and specialized shell crushers, shed light on how pterosaurs lived, moved, and evolved.
Rhythmically trained sea lion returns for an encore — and performs as well as humans
Animal research on biomusicality, which looks at whether different species are capable of behaving in ways that show they recognize aspects of music, including rhythm and beat, remains a tantalizing field at the intersection of biology and psychology. Now, the highly trained California sea lion who achieved global fame for...