How Snakes Lost Their Legs
Scientists in Florida say they've pinpointed a genetic process that caused snakes to lose their legs and have found that embryonic pythons still form "cryptic leg skeletons," millions of years later.
Science
Bye-Bye, Bao Bao: Popular Giant Panda Heads To China This Winter
The National Zoo's giant pandas are on loan from China, and the agreement requires that any pandas born in D.C. be sent to China before they turn 4. It'll soon be time for Bao Bao to make the journey.
Scientists Study Species Of Turtles Presumed To Be Abundant
Scientists and environmentalists work hard to save animals from becoming extinct. But there's another effort underway to study a species perceived to be abundant: turtles.
Scientists Await Word From Probe As It Descends Toward Mars
A joint European-Russian mission is attempting to land a probe on the red planet. If successful, it would be the first time a non-U.S. spacecraft has successfully operated from the surface of Mars.
Those Ancient Stone Tools — Did Humans Make Them, Or Was It Really Monkeys?
Capuchin monkeys in Brazil have been seen making sharp stone flakes. It was previously thought that only humans and their ancestors had flaking skills.
Emergency Room Use Stays High In Oregon Medicaid Study
Health officials hoped giving more people health insurance would curtail their use of expensive emergency rooms for routine medical care. But data from Oregon suggest their overall ER use didn't drop.
Scientists Wait To See If Probe Successfully Landed On Mars
The Schiaparelli probe was supposed to make a six-minute descent through the red planet's atmosphere and make a controlled landing on the surface. Scientists are waiting for word.
Don't Look Now! How Your Devices Hurt Your Productivity
Our tendency to respond immediately to email and texts gets in the way of high-level thinking, a neuroscientist says. Want to be more productive at work? Turn off most tech, at least part of the day.
Too Sweet, Or Too Shrill? The Double Bind For Women
A century after women won the vote in the U.S., we still see very few of them in leadership roles. Researchers say women are trapped in a catch-22 known as "the double bind."
Cut Down On Bee-Killing Pesticides? Ontario Finds It's Easier Said Than Done
Pesticides called "neonics" are popular among farmers, but also have been blamed for killing bees. In Canada, the province of Ontario is trying to crack down on neonics, with mixed results.