Top stories: Tracking the Himalayan wolf, trusting science, and finding our ‘ghost’ ancestors
This week’s top Science news
Latest News
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White House formally invites public comment on open-access policies
Some publishers feared order making federally funded studies free -
Scientists say they’ve cracked the mystery of why whales migrate—and it’s all about healthy skin
Whales travel to the tropics to molt -
High-altitude genes could turn Himalayan wolves into a new species
Genetic analysis suggests they differ significantly from gray wolves -
NIH hosts nonhuman primate workshop amidst increased scrutiny of monkey research
Participants propose better ways to conduct studies, but some wanted more discussion of ethics -
Mysterious ‘ghost’ populations had multiple trysts with human ancestors
Genomic studies show interbreeding goes back at least half a million years -
Humans are a bigger source of climate-altering methane, new studies suggest
Global warming won’t trigger cataclysmic methane releases any time soon -
Watch African killifish embryos enter suspended animation to survive
Research suggests a widespread phenomenon known as diapause has no negative effects on aging in African killifish -
Podcast: Brickmaking bacteria and solar cells that turn ‘waste’ heat into electricity
On this week’s show: Engineering bacteria to produce “living” materials, converting waste heat from data centers or tailpipes into power, and live reporting from the AAAS annual meeting -
First deaths of cruise ship passengers fuel debate over Japan’s handling of quarantine
Outbreak expert takes down alarming YouTube video, says conditions on board the Princess Diamond have improved -
Do you like weird art? Blame your brain
A new algorithm predicts preferences based on how the brain values paintings -
‘The spark has ignited.’ Latin American scientists intensify fight against sexual harassment
But gaps remain in university policies and procedures -
‘A door of hell.’ War stories from past NSF leaders help agency mark 70th birthday
Six former directors recount how they defended an agency they love -
Scientist decries ‘completely chaotic’ conditions on cruise ship Japan quarantined after viral outbreak
Japanese government also slow to release epidemiological data about the Diamond Princess, critics say -
Sexual misconduct legal battle raises questions about microbe researcher’s work
Defamation lawsuit brings allegations and past legal problems to light -
Europe plans to strictly regulate high-risk AI technology
European Commission’s artificial intelligence plan also promises to pump billions into R&D -
Scientists ‘strongly condemn’ rumors and conspiracy theories about origin of coronavirus outbreak
A statement in The Lancet assails misinformation about the possibility that COVID-19 came from a lab in Wuhan, China -
Hardy microbe’s DNA could be a time capsule for the ages
Artist and DNA storage pioneer says microbes entombed in salt could preserve a lasting record of humanity -
From ‘living’ cement to medicine-delivering biofilms, biologists remake the material world
Engineered microbes shift from making molecules to materials -
Minke whales are struggling to communicate over the din of ocean noise
Natural and humanmade sounds can interfere with their social interactions -
Body composting promises a sustainable way of death
The science behind turning your body into fertile soil -
‘The disruption is enormous.’ Coronavirus epidemic snarls science worldwide
Experiments lost as labs remain closed; scientific meetings canceled or postponed -
Electric bacteria create currents out of thin—and thick—air
Film of protein wires harnesses ambient moisture to make electricity -
What happens to our online lives after we die?
“Digital legacies” create privacy issues and a new culture of mourning -
Teen vaping is bad. Nicotine makes it worse, says researcher
Animal studies hint at long-term harm to the developing brain
