Catherine Griffin : Science World Report

Feb 19, 2015 08:39 AM EST

The 'Mother' of Indo-European Languages was Born More Than 5,500 Years Ago

The study of languages can tell researchers quite a bit about language's origins. Now, though, they may have tracked down the ancestor of Indo-European languages, which was spoken thousands of years ago

Feb 19, 2015 08:12 AM EST

Disintegrating Exoplanet with a Surface That's Being Vaporized May Reveal How Our Solar System Formed

A certain rocky exoplanet could tell researchers how our solar system was formed. Scientists have made some new observations of a small rocky world that may increase our understanding of how planets were first created.

Feb 19, 2015 07:47 AM EST

Nicotine and Caffeine May Extend the Healthy Life of Bees: Nature's Medicine Cabinet

Nicotine isn't healthy for people. It can cause a host of problems if we have too much of it. Now, though, researchers have found that the naturally occurring chemicals found in tobacco flowers and other plants may just be the right prescription for ailing bees.

Feb 19, 2015 07:23 AM EST

Mysterious Dark Matter Guides the Growth of Supermassive Black Holes in Galaxies

It turns out that dark matter may be responsible for guiding the growth of supermassive black holes. Every massive galaxy has a black hole at its center and the larger that galaxy, the bigger its black hole. Now, scientists have taken a closer look at why the two are related.

Feb 19, 2015 06:51 AM EST

Neanderthals Divided Up Daily Tasks Based on Sex

It turns out that Neanderthals divided their labor based on sex. Scientists have found that there was a gender-based division of labor among Neanderthal communities, which reveals a bit more about how these ancient hominins lived.

Feb 18, 2015 10:10 AM EST

Size Matters in the Battle Against Extinction for Amphibians

When it comes to avoiding extinction, size matters. Scientists have discovered that in the battle to diverse environments, animals that are sexually dimorphic, which means that the males and females differ in size, have a better chance at survival.

Feb 18, 2015 09:47 AM EST

Global Warming May Increase Ocean Upwelling and Impact Global Fisheries

Global warming may just increase upwelling in several ocean current systems around the world by the end of this century. The findings could mean some major shifts in marine biodiversity as temperatures climb.

Feb 18, 2015 09:21 AM EST

What Causes the Munchies? Scientists Discover Why You Eat with Marijuana Use

When people use marijuana, they sometimes encounter the "munchies," an uncontrollable urge to eat. But what exactly causes the munchies to occur?

Feb 18, 2015 09:07 AM EST

New Mapping Technique Plumbs the Depths of the Ocean and Records Seascapes

Scientists have created a new method for mapping the depths of the ocean. The new automated technique is not only more cost efficient, but is also quicker and more objective than previous methods.

Feb 18, 2015 08:36 AM EST

Humans Alter Adriatic Sea Ecosystems More Than Climate Change

It turns out that it's not climate, but humans that are causing massive shifts in the Adriatic Sea. Scientists have taken a closer look at this region and have found that humans may be rapidly altering this historically stable biodiversity hotspot.

Feb 18, 2015 08:18 AM EST

The Strongest Natural Material in the World Belongs to Sea Snails, Not Spiders

Move over, spider silk. There's a new natural material that's the strongest on Earth. Scientists have found that sea snail teeth may be the strongest natural material known to man.

Feb 18, 2015 08:03 AM EST

Mysterious Bright Spots Seen in New Images of the Dwarf Planet Ceres

As NASA's Dawn spacecraft shoots toward the dwarf planet Ceres, it's learning more about this small body. Now, scientists have spotted mysterious bright spots and craters in images of Ceres sent from the spacecraft.