Why Penguins Can't Taste Fish
Savor fish are a staple for penguins. Researchers say the birds' ability to taste umami disappeared more than 20 million years ago.
Research News
Pity For Penguins: They Can't Taste Their Dinner
Savory fish are a staple for penguins, but the poor birds lack the ability to taste the umami flavor of their meals. One hypothesis? The genes at play got frozen out of commission.
Scientists Weigh In On What Can Mend A Broken Heart
Anyone who has suffered a break up knows it can take time to get over it. While wallowing in self pity isn't a great idea, reflecting on a recent break up can help speed up the healing process.
Navy Funds A Small Robot Army To Study The Arctic
The U.S. Navy has completed the largest robotic survey of the Arctic ever attempted. Warming waters are absorbing more sunlight and melting more ice there each summer, the gizmos and gliders suggest.
The 50 Most Effective Ways To Transform The Developing World
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has pinpointed the tools with the greatest impact, from affordable tablets for schoolkids to an electrical grid in a box.
Smoking's Death Toll May Be Higher Than Anyone Knew
Tobacco's link to lung cancer, stroke and heart attack is well-known. But smokers are also more likely to die from kidney failure, infections and breast cancer, a revised tally suggests.
Florida Health Officials Hope To Test GMO Mosquitoes This Spring
The British firm that developed the strain of mosquito says it has already tested the insect in tropical countries and found it can reduce populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes by 90 percent.
The Ice Is Talking. We Just Have To Listen
Glaciers moan and groan. They crackle, fizz and rumble. Researchers say the noises they make might help us understand how fast they're melting.
Harnessing The Immune System To Fight Cancer
Our immune systems constantly fight off disease — protecting us from colds, flu and infection. An experimental treatment called immunotherapy is helping patients' immune systems fight off cancer.
To Get Parents To Vaccinate Their Kids, Don't Ask. Just Tell
The way a pediatrician talks with nervous parents about vaccines may determine whether the child gets immunized or not, a study suggests. Asking "What do you want to do about shots?" doesn't work.