Scientists using DNA sequencing say they've uncovered a previously unknown period when the human population expanded rapidly in prehistory. The sequencing of 36 complete Y chromosomes revealed this population explosion occurred 40,000 to 50,000 years ago, between the first expansion of modern humans out of Africa 60,000 to 70,000 ago and the Neolithic expansions of people in several parts of...

New York's famed subway planned to resume partial service [Thursday morning], far uptown of flooded stations and tunnels in Lower Manhattan. But full restoration of the Big Apple's transit system may take weeks, some experts said Wednesday. Gridlock seized Manhattan's streets on Wednesday as cars, cabs and buses clogged with commuters filled the city. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced two...

What happens when you mix classical music with kittens? Overwhelming cuteness, that's what.

What is light made of: waves or particles? This basic question has fascinated physicists since the early days of science. Quantum mechanics predicts that photons, particles of light, are both particles and waves simultaneously. Reporting in Science, physicists from the University of Bristol give a new demonstration of this wave-particle duality of photons, dubbed the 'one real mystery of quantum...

How have humans influenced Earth? Can geoscientists measure when human impacts began overtaking those of Earth's other inhabitants and that of the natural Earth system? Responding to increasing scientific recognition that humans have become the foremost agent of change at Earth's surface, organizers of this GSA technical session have brought together speakers and poster presentations from a...

Biologists may have unearthed the potential to manipulate the functions of chloroplasts, the parts of plant cells responsible for photosynthesis.

In times of financial hardship, or when opportunities arise, the ability to borrow can be critical. Some people rely on commercial lenders, while others depend on relatives, especially in developing countries. But a new study shows that the presence of banks and relatives together are better than any one source individually.

Harvard scientists have solved the long-standing mystery of how some insects form the germ cells – the cellular precursors to the eggs and sperm necessary for sexual reproduction – and the answer is shedding new light on the evolutionary origins of a gene that had long been thought to be critical to the process.

As urban populations expand, downtown buildings are going nowhere but up. The huge energy needs of these skyscrapers mean that these towers are not only office buildings, they're polluters with smokestacks billowing out toxins from the rooftop. Our cities are dirtier than we think. New research from Concordia University just might clean them up.

Expanding its focus on the link between the atmosphere and human health, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is launching a three-year, international study into the impact of open-fire cooking on regional air quality and disease.

For the kinds of animals that are most familiar to us—ones that are big enough to see—it's a no-brainer: Is it better to sit around and wait for food to come to you, or to move around and find it? Larger animals that opt to sit around aren't likely to last long.

US mobile carriers began implementing a system this week to block the use of stolen mobile phones, part of an effort to curb rising thefts of smartphones such as the iPhone.

Like humans, Alex understood the order and absolute values of numbers

Researchers report that mass spectrometry, a tool currently used to detect and measure proteins and lipids, can also now allow biologists to "see" for the first time exactly how drugs work inside living cells to kill infectious microbes. As a result, scientists may be able to improve existing antibiotics and design new, smarter ones to fight deadly infections, such as...

Researchers are attacking breast cancer in three separate trials, including one that uses a malarial drug that shows promise as a way to stop breast cancer before it starts.

Researchers are developing a technique for predicting from a simple blood sample the amount of cathepsins -- protein-degrading enzymes known to accelerate certain diseases -- a specific person would produce. This patient-specific information may be helpful in developing personalized approaches to treat these tissue-destructive...

The most-distant, super-luminous supernovae found to date have been observed by an international team of astronomers. The stellar explosions would have occurred at a time when the universe was much younger and probably soon after the Big Bang.

Physician-researchers have reported the first effective therapy for a class of previously untreatable and potentially life-threatening tumors often found in children.

Scientists have shown that the "switches" that regulate the expression of genes play a major role in the development of cancer. In a new study they have investigated a gene region that contains a particular single nucleotide variant associated with increased risk for developing colorectal and prostate cancers -- and found that removing this region caused dramatic resistance to tumor...

Medical researchers have identified an enzyme called Monoacylglycerol lipase as a new therapeutic target to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease.

What is light made of: waves or particles? This basic question has fascinated physicists since the early days of science. Quantum mechanics predicts that photons, particles of light, are both particles and waves simultaneously. Physicists now give a new demonstration of this wave-particle duality of photons, dubbed the "one real mystery of quantum mechanics" by Nobel Prize laureate Richard...

Many educators have long believed that when words differ on only one sound, early readers can learn the rules of phonics by focusing on what is different between the words. Scientists are turning that thinking on its head. A recent study shows certain kinds of variation in words may help early readers learn...

For the kinds of animals that are most familiar to us -- ones that are big enough to see -- it's a no-brainer: Is it better to sit around and wait for food to come to you, or to move around and find it? Larger animals that opt to sit around aren't likely to last long. But for bacteria out in the ocean, the question is a far more complicated...

Tendon injuries affect athletic horses at all levels. Researchers are studying the use of stem cells in treating equine tendon injuries. Stem cells injections are already common veterinary medicine, and scientists are curious how to make stem cell treatments more effective.