Weekly Headlines (excerpts)

1. In medieval England, leprosy bounced between humans and squirrels

First reconstruction of leprotic bacterial genome from ancient animal remains sheds new light on its ecology

BY SEAN CUMMINGS 3 MAY 2024 

2. Cheap catalyst could help turn carbon dioxide into fuels

Molybdenum compound offers an efficient way to make carbon monoxide—a building block of chemicals and fuels

BY ROBERT F. SERVICE 2 MAY 2024 

3. Orangutan plays doctor, heals himself

Ape applies a known medicinal plant to his wound

BY KERMIT PATTISON 2 MAY 2024 

4. U.S. moves to reclassify cannabis as a lower risk drug

Historic policy shift will make it easier for scientists to investigate potential medical uses

BY PHIE JACOBS 1 MAY 2024 

5. Scientists call new measures to control bird flu in cows ‘a drop in the bucket’

As restrictions take effect, new data show virus is pervasive in herds

BY JON COHEN, MARTIN ENSERINK 1 MAY 2024 

6. Steel industry emissions are a big contributor to climate change. Can it go green?

Department of Energy funds research to take carbon out of iron and steel production

BY WARREN CORNWALL 1 MAY 2024 

7. Nobel-winning neuroscientist faces scrutiny for data discrepancies in more than a dozen papers

Thomas Südhof says mistakes in co-authored publications are honest errors that don’t affect studies' conclusions

BY HOLLY ELSE 1 MAY 2024 

8. Intricate leaf veins may be an ancient protection against hungry insects

Study of fossil and modern leaves shows leaf networks are better equipped to survive trauma when they have loops

BY ELIZABETH PENNISI 30 APR 2024 

9. ‘Daredevil’ running could help astronauts maintain muscles in low gravity

Inspired by carnival motorbike attractions, the technique could simulate Earth-like gravity on the Moon

BY DARREN INCORVAIA 30 APR 2024 

10. Ancient crystals suggest early Earth had land and freshwater

Hardy zircon minerals found in Australian rocks suggest conditions for life existed 4 billion years ago

BY ELISE CUTTS 30 APR 2024 

11. Major budget cuts to two high-profile NIH efforts leave researchers reeling

Drop in 21st Century Cures Act funding will slow BRAIN and All of Us projects

BY JOCELYN KAISER 30 APR 2024 

12. Climate modelers grapple with their own carbon emissions

Next round of international climate simulations will seek to curb excess energy use for computation

BY PAUL VOOSEN 29 APR 2024 

13. Which wild animals carry the COVID-19 virus? An ambitious U.S. project aims to find out

Scientists test bighorn sheep, bears, moose, rats, and dozens of other species to track how SARS-CoV-2 moves between humans and wildlife

BY JON COHEN 29 APR 2024