Science

The number of microorganisms in Sydney Harbor tripled in the days following the dust storm. Phytoplankton is a key part of the ocean ecosystem, but too much of it can have dire consequences.

Everyone has gene NRG1, but in many breast cancer cells the gene is “broken.” How will the newfound link between the gene and cancer change the future of medicine?

Based on the discovery of ancient coin hoards, two scientists believe the population of ancient Rome may have been smaller than previously suggested, an issue that is widely debated.

Tonight, NOVA will broadcast “Darwin’s Darkest Hour,” a docudrama that examines Charles Darwin’s struggle over whether to publish his theory of evolution, knowing it would anger the church and threaten his marriage.

Gain a better understanding of the Nobel prize-winning discovery that will aid in the development of new cancer therapies.

“Ardi,” a 4.4 million-year-old early human fossil, may prove that a “missing link” between humans and chimps does not exist, and that both species evolved substantially from a common ancestor.

An NFL-commissioned study found that retired players suffer from dementia and other memory-related diseases at many times the normal rate. The findings support prior independent research that the NFL has tried to discredit.

The growing number of deformed frogs in northern California is caused by factors similar to those responsible for the rapid decline of frog populations and other amphibians worldwide.

A clinical trial found that an experimental HIV vaccine moderately reduced the risk of infection. It is the first successful large clinical trial of an HIV vaccine.

Three separate spacecraft have found proof that the moon’s surface holds water molecules, a discovery that will likely encourage exploration of the moon and beyond.

Australia’s biggest dust storm in 70 years blanketed Sydney and other parts of the east coast in red dust this week.

The first results from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter indicate that shadowed craters on the moon’s north and south poles may be the coldest places in the solar system, raising the probability that water ice is present on the moon.

Faced with proposed budget cuts and a need for new technologies that would protect astronauts from radiation, NASA may have to put Mars exploration on hold.

New Zealand legends of a man-eating bird may actually have substance, as scientists say that Haast’s eagle, a giant bird extinct for 500 years, was a predator, not a scavenger.

Drug-resistant staph bacteria similar to the strains found in hospitals have been detected on beaches in Washington state, surprising researchers who believed there was no chance of finding the “superbug” there.

On Sept. 15, 1835, Charles Darwin, aboard the HMS Beagle, reached the Galapagos Islands, where he would start to formulate his ideas of natural selection.

Alec Jeffreys, a pioneer in genetic profiling, last week repeated his opposition to the policy of keeping DNA samples of innocent people in the British DNA database. Britain has been slow to respond to a European court ruling that found the database violated the human right to privacy.

The discovery of an ancient inscribed vessel in Jerusalem could shed light on religious rituals practiced around the time of Jesus Christ.

NFL Pro Bowlers Matt Birk, Lofa Tatupu and Sean Morey will donate their brains to a program studying chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurological disorder caused by blows to the head.

On Sept. 14, 1959, the Soviet probe Luna 2 crashed onto the surface of the moon, becoming the first man-made object to reach it.

Exciting new and evolved species have recently been discovered in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, while other species have drastically diminished in British Columbia, highlighting the challenges facing conservationists.

Researchers at UCLA diverged from tradition, examining sleep as an adaptive strategy that has more than one distinct purpose, instead of studying the brain’s relation to sleep.

Two recently released studies have moved science closer to discovering the cause of prostate cancer; one strengthened the link between prostate cancer and a virus, while the other discovered a stem cell in the prostate.

A few studies have found that blocking the communication molecules sent out by bacteria can render them practically harmless, and may prevent the evolution of resistant strains.

A new study from the University of Amsterdam shows that romantic love heightens creativity, while lust improves logical thinking. Though experts note there are ways to summon one’s creative energies, even without a muse.

A Wisconsin woman claims her dog can read, highlighting the capacity of canine brains and underscoring the benefits of the human-canine relationship.

A composer and a scientist have found that animals respond to music derived from their own vocal communication, a discovery that could make life for captive animals much more pleasant.

Imperfect watermelons could be turned into ethanol and used to fuel farm equipment, adding one more fuel source to the do-it-yourself and green fuel movements.

Scientists believe a gas giant planet is orbiting so close to its parent star that it will be destroyed or engulfed. If it survives, it will disprove what scientists believe about tidal forces.

The perfect preservation of an ancient squid fossil allowed scientists to make use of its ink, shedding new light on the conditions that create the finest fossils.