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Songbirds are in crisis as trappers and smugglers force them into lucrative bird-singing competitionsMillions of songbirds in Southeast Asia are trapped and smuggled each year for keeping as pets or entering in competitions. Scientists warn that it's fueling a crisis.
birds -
Computer scientists are rushing to tame AI's voracious appetite for energyScientists are exploring new algorithms, hardware and computing methods to lower AI's power demands. Strategic siting of data centers and other steps to increase green energy use are also key.
artificial-intelligence -
'You kill the bacteria and heal the wound at the same time': Emerging nanotech could be the future of wound healingSlow-healing lesions — common in diabetics and burn victims — can lead to lingering infections that resist antibiotic treatment. A new approach using light-activated therapies may offer a solution.
health -
Stupid hot: Heat waves cause cognitive changes in animals, making them more aggressive and unable to complete basic tasksAs temperatures rise, some creatures pick fights while others struggle to learn. The consequences of these behavioral changes may ripple through ecosystems.
animals -
Rare genetic disease makes scientists reconsider what the 'seat of fear' in the brain really isPeople with a rare genetic disorder that damages the amygdala are helping neuroscientists rethink how the brain shapes fear, trust and concern for others.
neuroscience -
'More than 100 million years of evolution': How snakes evolved and lost their legsHuge snakes, tiny snakes, venomous snakes and constrictor snakes, snakes that slither, burrow or swim: New fossils and modern technology are tracing serpent origins
snakes -
'The push towards renewables is unstoppable because it's in a country's self-interest': Climate scientist Andy Reisinger on Trump, Iran, and the future of EarthOnce global warming peaks, it could take centuries to cool things back down. But we can bend the curve by cutting fossil fuel emissions now.
climate-change -
The 'sweet spot' of overconfidence — project a bit to be perceived as competent, but don't be 'too seduced,' a cognitive neuroscientist explains in a Q&AINTERVIEW Q&A with cognitive neuroscientist Steve Fleming: What the science of self-awareness can tell us about confident decision-making
INTERVIEW -
'We're starting to find a lot more weirdness': These strange animals can control their body heatSome creatures can dramatically alter their internal temperature — a strategy called heterothermy — and outlast storms, floods and predators.
animals -
Missing megaflood: How did the Mediterranean transform from a salt-filled bowl to a deep sea if it wasn't a cataclysmic deluge?Researchers have long believed that a sudden, massive deluge filled a dry, salt-filled Mediterranean 5 million years ago. Turns out that probably didn't happen, but there was still drama aplenty.
weather -
Earth is 'missing' lighter elements. They may be hiding in its solid inner core.These chemical oddities may explain why Earth seems to be deficient in certain elements — and could prove useful in catalysts and more.
planet-earth -
'Nobody knew why this was happening': Scientists race to understand baffling behavior of 'clumping clouds'Scientists are discovering that clumping clouds supercharge storms in surprising ways — driving heavy, deadly rainfall and flooding
weather -
A 'functional cure' for HIV may be in reach, early trials suggestPeople infected with HIV must take antiretroviral drugs for life. But promising trials using engineered antibodies suggest that "functional cures" may be in reach.
hiv -
New blood test can predict risk of postpartum depression with more than 80% accuracyScientists are learning more about this leading complication of childbirth. Treatments are improving and doctors can test for biological markers that flag heightened risk.
reproductive-health -
Extreme thinness: Scientists are investigating why some people struggle to gain weightResearchers are exploring why some individuals are naturally super-lean and may struggle to gain weight. The causes of such constitutional thinness offer clues to the physiology of weight control.
health -
Scientists propose using pollen to make paper and spongesReengineered, the powdery stuff could become a range of eco-friendly objects.
4 Commentstechnology -
Scraps of ancient viruses make up 40% of our genome. They could trigger brain degeneration.Our genomes are peppered with DNA segments called retrotransposons that can move from place to place. When unleashed, some can kill nerves and promote inflammation — a discovery that may inspire treatments for neurodegeneration.
genetics -
We know humans arose in Africa, but archaeology is only just uncovering secrets of the continent's early civilizationsSmall settlements and the scourge of slavery left gaps in Africa's archaeological record. Yet sites and artifacts are revealing clues to the continent’s more recent history. An archaeologist explains the findings and threats to this heritage.
human-evolution -
Ghost forests are growing as sea levels riseAs trees choked by saltwater die along low-lying coasts, marshes may move in — for better or worse, scientists are learning
climate-change
