science

Babies in the West commonly lack a gut microbe that is found in infants in other parts of the world, which may be due to differences in their mothers’ diets Source link

An ultrastable laser could enable extremely precise timing and navigation on the moon, and the cold, dark craters near the lunar poles would be the ideal location for it Source link

A giant virus encodes part of the protein-making toolkit of cells that gives it greater control over its amoeba host, raising questions about how it evolved and how such beings relate to living organisms Source link

Intermittent fasting appears to be no better than doing nothing when it comes to helping people who are overweight or have obesity lose weight Source link

Five dietary patterns that involve eating lots of plants have been linked with living up to three years longer, even among people who are genetically predisposed to have a shorter life Source link

The activity of certain neurons may influence our endurance for exercise, and these could be targeted to help us run faster for longer Source link

A fleet of wind-propelled robot boats could act as a sensor network covering a wide area and relay acoustic signals to a submarine Source link

The Chincha Kingdom was transporting seabird excrement from islands to valleys as early as the 13th century, and this powerful fertiliser may have been key to its economic success Source link

It’s hard not to despair about the state of the world today, but here are five reasons to be a little bit hopeful, says Fred Pearce Source link

Biologists have long thought that speaking to nature’s economic value would persuade boardrooms it was worth saving. It hasn’t worked – so what, if anything, will? Source link