Science

The Navy has approved a plan to step up anti-terrorism efforts at a Washington base by sending specially trained dolphins and sea lions into surrounding waters.

European scientists claim an Italian amputee is the first to control complex movements of a robotic hand connected to his nervous system.

Exercise has long been viewed as an important factor for maintaining health and vitality in old age. Now, its anti-aging benefits are being understood on a genetic level.

Living up to 30 years with no trace of cancer, the naked mole rat may offer important clues about human health and longevity.

A scientist in Belgium found that a patient believed to be in a coma has actually been conscious for more than 23 years. Journalists debate the veracity of his claim, and whether the findings hurt or help opponents of right-to-die legislation.

The weirdest creatures in the world are often the most endangered. FindingDulcinea pays tribute to these unusual animals with photos, videos, and information about flightless parrots, giant starfish, naked mole rats, barking monkeys and more.

The results of Caster Semenya’s sex verification tests will not be made public. Reports suggest that she is intersex, meaning that she cannot be classified simply as a male or female.

The early morning hours of Nov. 17 will be the best time to view the Leonid meteor shower in the United States.

MIT researchers have shown that the brain appears to react more to success than failure, supporting previous evidence that we learn more from a positive outcome than a negative one.

A recent study found that intense prayer and meditation have a positive effect on mental ability, leading one researcher to suggest that it’s possible to reconcile science and religion.

In its 20 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has transformed the way astronomers view the universe. It introduced people on Earth to far-off galaxies, and revealed new information to help scientists understand how the universe began, and what is in store for the future.

Studies show Americans’ support for animal research has declined significantly. In response, biomedical researchers have launched a national campaign to defend and promote animal testing.

Mounting evidence suggests that the differences between male and female brain structure may be more heavily influenced by environment than previously thought.

Germ cells, the cells that compose eggs and sperm, could provide insight into the earliest stages of human development, and maybe even prevent infertility, birth defects and genetic diseases.

A Danish report on the level of contact that 2-year-old children in the developed world have with feminizing chemicals has been met with shock and concern by some, and frustration by those that say this is a new take on old news.

In many U.S. states, the DNA of those arrested but not convicted is held indefinitely. In Britain, however, the Home Office dropped a DNA database proposal due to strong public opposition and a European court ruling.

An Oxford University study has found that practicing a task such as juggling can alter the structure of the brain, indicating that the plasticity of the brain is greater than previously believed.

Early this morning, the Centaur rocket, followed by the LCROSS craft, collided with the moon in an attempt to stir up a plume of dust that scientists hope will reveal deposits of ice on the moon.

A recent study suggests there may be a link between prenatal exposure to the chemical and increased aggression in little girls, but many find the association to be unfounded.

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.