Catherine Griffin : Science World Report

Jan 20, 2014 11:49 PM EST

Why Males are More Aggressive Than Females: Special Cells Promote Fighting

Scientists have discovered that male flies put up more of a fight and have learned exactly why that is. It turns out that special cells in their brains, which are absent in females, promote fighting.

Jan 20, 2014 11:43 PM EST

Climate Change Impacts Cotton: Productivity up by 2050

Scientists have discovered that while a changing environment threatens most crops in Cameroon in Africa, its impact could be far less on cotton cultivation. In fact, productivity should improve significantly by 2050, according to new research.

Jan 20, 2014 11:38 PM EST

Older Brains Know More and Use it Better as We Age

As we age, our brains go into a steady decline--at least according to previous research. Now, though, scientists have found that this isn't the case. Instead, the human brain works slower in old age because we have more stored information over time.

Jan 20, 2014 11:28 PM EST

Scientists Discover Pesticide Impacts Bumblebee Size

Pesticides may be able to fend off irritating insects, but they can also impact helpful ones--like bumblebees. Now, scientists have discovered that exposure to a widely used pesticide causes worker bumblebees to grow less and then hatch out at a smaller size.

Jan 20, 2014 11:22 PM EST

Astronomers Discover Milky Way Galaxy Grew from the Inside Out

Astronomers have found evidence backing up theoretically predicted divisions in the chemical composition of the stars that make up the Milky Way's disc, which suggests that stars in the inner regions of the Galactic dis were the first to form. This means that our galaxy grew from the inside-out.

Jan 20, 2014 12:21 PM EST

Scientists Decode DNA of Blood-Sucking Hookworm

Researchers may have found a way to help fight off the blood-sucking hookworm, a parasite that afflicts an estimated 700 million of the world's poor. They've managed to decode the hookworm's genome, revealing how it infects and survives in humans.

Jan 20, 2014 11:34 AM EST

Sarcophagus Leads to the Tomb of Unknown Pharaoh and Lost Dynasty in Egypt

Archaeologists have uncovered the tomb of a previously unknown pharaoh in Egypt. They've discovered the final resting place of Woseribre Senebkay and have also found the first proof of a forgotten Abydos Dynasty.

Jan 20, 2014 10:30 AM EST

Extreme El Niño Events to Double as Climate Change Warms the Globe

It turns out that as our planet warms, extreme weather events are likely to increase. Scientists have discovered that El Niños may double in number as our planet warms, causing scenarios such as the 1983 heatwave that led to the Ash Wednesday bushfires in Australia.

Jan 18, 2014 03:26 PM EST

How Migrating Birds Fly in V-Formation: Aerodynamics Revealed

Why and how do birds fly in a V-Formation? Scientists have wondered just that and now, may have their answer. They've attached custom-built GPS and accelerometer loggers to flying birds on migration.

Jan 18, 2014 03:26 PM EST

Altering Gut Bacteria May Increase Health and Lifespan

Want to live a longer life? Get the right gut bacteria. Scientists have discovered that by altering the symbiotic, or commensal, relationship between bacteria and the absorptive cells lining the intestine, they can increase the lifespan in Drosophila.

Jan 18, 2014 03:26 PM EST

Arctic Cyclones More Common Than Thought: Implications for Climate Models

Arctic cyclones were once thought to be relatively rare. These storms, which churn across the top of the world and leave warm water and air in their wakes, can melt sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. Now, scientists have discovered that these storms are far more common than expected, which could have majo...

Jan 15, 2014 12:24 AM EST

Electrically Charged Spider Webs Snatch Prey and Pollutants

Scientists have discovered that spider webs are far more active than we might have thought. They've shown that webs actively spring toward prey thanks to electrically-conductive glue spread across their surface.