Research News

Rats have been a persistent problem for cities around the world.

The Genetic Divide Between NYC's Uptown And Downtown Rats

12:36pm December 01, 2017

Fordham University graduate student Matthew Combs studies the DNA of New York City's rats. He found that rats living uptown are genetically distinct from rats living downtown.

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Grad students are the heart of America's science future, says professor Adam Frank.

A Tax That Would Hurt Science's Most Valuable — And Vulnerable

10:41am December 01, 2017

by Adam Frank

Grad students are the engines of America's scientific and technological prowess — with an amazing return on investment, says professor Adam Frank.

Science

How Birth Order Relates To Job Success

5:04am December 01, 2017

by Shankar Vedantam

New social science research explores the relationship between who becomes a CEO and family birth order. First-born sons are far more likely to be represented among the ranks of CEOs.

Artist's rendition of a family of pterosaurs, which had massive wingspans of up to 13 feet and likely ate fish with their large teeth-filled jaws.

Science

Hundreds Of Eggs From Ancient Flying Reptile Are Found In China

3:58pm November 30, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

The fossilized pterosaur eggs and embryos shed light on the Lower Cretaceous creature's development and nesting habits. The cache was found where the reptile was once abundant, dubbed Pterosaur Eden.

A coalition of mental health advocacy groups is calling on federal regulators, state agencies and employers to conduct random audits of insurers to make sure they are in compliance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

Health Insurers Are Still Skimping On Mental Health Coverage

12:09pm November 30, 2017

by Jenny Gold

Behavioral care is four times more likely to be out-of-network than medical or surgical care, a nationwide study shows. That can make treatment unaffordable even for people who have health insurance.

Science

Women's Role In The European Agricultural Revolution Revealed

6:52am November 30, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Studies of ancient bones show that women's physical labor was crucial to driving the agricultural revolution in Europe. These women's upper bodies were stronger than that of elite athletes today.

Bacterial cells can now read a synthetic genetic code and use it to assemble proteins containing man-made parts.

Scientists Train Bacteria To Build Unnatural Proteins

6:25pm November 29, 2017

by Richard Harris

Bacteria engineered with an expanded genetic alphabet can produce novel proteins, which could lead to the development of new drugs.

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After decades of disappointment, doctors have been able to treat several different types of genetic conditions by giving each patient a healthy version of their defective gene.

Gene Therapy Shows Promise For A Growing List Of Diseases

1:09pm November 29, 2017

by Rob Stein

After decades of hope and disappointment, doctors have now been able to treat several different types of genetic conditions by giving each patient a healthy version of their defective gene.

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A demonstration of strength of the artificial muscle.

Science

Robot Muscles Inspired By Origami Lift 1000 Times Their Weight

9:40pm November 28, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

The delicate art of paper folding is playing a crucial role in designing robotic artificial muscles that are startlingly strong. The design uses a soft material and could be safer around humans.

Boys are more likely to have asthma than girls, but that flips after puberty. Researchers suspect that sex hormones are a factor.

Testosterone May Help Protect Men From Asthma

4:02pm November 28, 2017

by Greta Jochem

Women are more likely to have asthma than men. One possible reason? Testosterone could block a protein that helps spark an asthma attack, a study finds, while estrogen may not.