Weekly Headlines (excerpts)

1. NASA says it found possible signs of life on Mars. There are a lot of maybes

Some see hype over intriguing rock as plea for troubled multibillion-dollar Mars Sample Return mission

BY PAUL VOOSEN 26 JUL 2024 

2. Colorado tries a new tactic against ‘cow flu’: widespread milk testing

The state hit hardest by the H5N1 outbreak orders weekly tests of milk tanks at all dairy farms

BY JON COHEN 26 JUL 2024 

3.  Breathing polluted air increases risk of osteoporosis, growing evidence shows

Pollutants can interfere with bone growth in numerous ways, studies suggest

BY SANKET JAIN 25 JUL 2024 

4. Mine waste contaminates air with potentially toxic dust, threatening nearby communities

Disaster in Brazil highlights threat “tailings” pose at thousands of sites across the globe

BY ROBERTO GONZÁLEZ 25 JUL 2024 

5. Can scientists help corals by killing starfish?

Culling crown-of-thorns starfish boosted coral cover on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

BY SOFIA QUAGLIA 25 JUL 2024 

6. These dragons really do have iron teeth

Adaptation may help Komodos slice and dice their prey

BY JASON BITTEL 24 JUL 2024 

7.  New European rules to curb deforestation have worrying flaws, scientists say

European Union faces calls to delay import policy set to take effect late this year

BY DYNA ROCHMYANINGSIH 24 JUL 2024 

8.  Static electricity may help butterflies pick up pollen without touching flowers

Positively charged insects can attract negatively charged pollen across a gap of several millimeters, study suggests

BY CATHERINE OFFORD 24 JUL 2024 

9. Camera captures first-ever video of shark struck by boat

Accidental “selfie” highlights risks to sharks and other marine creatures

BY ERIK STOKSTAD 24 JUL 2024 

10.  Raccoons show surprising problem-solving abilities in urban backyards

Find could lead to new ways to manage “trash pandas”

BY VIVIAN LA 23 JUL 2024 

11.  U.S. back in race to forge unknown, superheavy elements

Two atoms of element 116 demonstrate path to hunt for element 120 and extend the periodic table

BY ROBERT F. SERVICE 23 JUL 2024 

12.  Burned-up satellites are polluting the atmosphere

As commercial fleets grow, concerns raised about ozone-destroying effects of metal particles

BY DANIEL CLERY 23 JUL 2024 

13. Even after Columbus, infectious diseases had a surprisingly hard time crossing oceans

Model study estimates the odds that historic voyages helped viruses spread to new continents

BY KAI KUPFERSCHMIDT 22 JUL 2024 

14.  The virus that causes polio has been found in Gaza. Here’s why that is grim news

Fighting and health system’s collapse will complicate emergency vaccination campaign

BY LESLIE ROBERTS 22 JUL 2024 

15.  Chimps take turns while chatting, just like humans

Findings could shed light on evolution of language

BY CATHLEEN O’GRADY 22 JUL 2024 

16.  Ancient genetic blueprint for regeneration revealed in brittle star genome

Genes active during regrowth of brittle star limbs are strikingly similar to those used by other regenerating species

BY ALEX EPSHTEIN 22 JUL 2024 

17. Virus spreading in Latin America may cause stillbirths and birth defects

Brazilian Ministry of Health tells doctors to closely monitor pregnant women infected with the little-known Oropouche virus

BY SOFIA MOUTINHO 20 JUL 2024