We may be one step closer to storing data in DNA
Researchers at Microsoft have developed a faster way to write data into DNA — a biological alternative to the bits on a hard drive.
Science
Scientists are combing through coronavirus samples to see how widespread omicron is
Scientists are scouring coronavirus samples for clues of the omicron variant. The U.S. is in a better position now than it was earlier to find the variant, but some part of the country may struggle.
Astronomers find a new planet that's mostly made of iron
NASA's TESS telescope finds a small, iron-rich planet which could help explain the origins of Mercury, the innermost planet in our solar system
Sending the right message about the omicron variant is tricky
Scientists may not know for a couple weeks yet how risky the new coronavirus variant will be to public health. But getting out front now about what is known helps dispel misinformation, they say.
Ancient footprints mistakenly attributed to bears were made by early humans
A new look at nearly 3.7 million-year-old fossil footprints uncovered in Tanzania shows that multiple species of early humans lived together at the same time.
The mystery of where omicron came from — and why it matters
How did this new strain of the novel coronavirus evolve? Researchers are investigating various possibilities. One leading theory involves ... just one person.
A different kind of COVID vaccine is about ready to roll
Protein subunit vaccines work by injecting people with a tiny portion of a virus. In the case of the COVID-19 vaccine, that tiny portion is the spike protein that the coronavirus uses to enter cells.
Living robots made in a lab have found a new way to self-replicate, researchers say
Xenobots, a type of programmable organism made from frog cells, can replicate by spontaneously sweeping up loose stem cells, researchers say. This could have implications for regenerative medicine.
Conservationists flew 30 white rhinos to Rwanda in a huge operation to protect them
The roughly 2,000-mile journey took the rhinos to their new home in Akagera National Park, where advocates hope the animals will be able to establish a new breeding stronghold and evade poachers.
Climate change and city lights are tricking trees into growing leaves too soon
A study of trees in dozens of cities found that urban heat and light pollution are pushing urban trees to sprout leaves about a week earlier than trees in more rural settings.