Science sinks teeth into Neanderthals

Neanderthals may have started weaning their young from seven months of age and transferred them to solid food by just over a year.

• Humans, Neanderthals: No hanky-panky
• Modern humans killed Neanderthals
• Neanderthals died before human arrival

Nasa approves first asteroid mission

The US space agency Nasa has given final approval to the first US mission to fly a spacecraft to an astroid and bring samples of it back to Earth.

• Nasa: Prioritise mission to Mars
• Planet-hunting Kepler telescope broken
• Nasa to cough up for ISS trips

Reversing paralysis with a gel

Researchers develop an implant to regenerate nerves and possibly reverse paralysis.

• Spinal cord injury
• Why can a fractured spine cause paralysis?
• Quadriplegic ‘Supa Piet’ takes on the Ironman

Amputees adapt own bionic hands

A new app lets amputees adapt their own bionic hand for every occasion on their phone.

• US regulators approve bionic eye
• Bionic legs for paraplegics
• Scientists moving toward 'bionic' leg

Chameleons to help potty training

Chameleon research shows that the animals change colour not for camouflage, but rather to signal to others, which could be used for potty training.

• Tiniest chameleon found in Madagascar
• Landlubber chameleons became sailors
• Bio paints Bruni as 'chameleon'

Reef predator uses sign language to hunt

The roving coralgrouper, a predator fish of tropical reefs, uses sign language to advise fellow hunters of hiding prey.

• Crabs may be healing Great Barrier Reef
• Barrier Reef sea floor breaking off
• Starfish killed to protect reef

Space test shows immunity clues

A lab experiment that rode to space two years ago has offered new clues about why astronauts' immune systems struggle to perform in zero gravity.

• Space travel can accelerate Alzheimer's
• Eye problems in long-term astronauts
• Mars makes astronauts weak

How safe are our kids at school?

One in five secondary school pupils has experienced some form violence while at school, the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention says.

• Cape Town pupil stabbed on bus
• Girl, 15, in court for killing pupil
• Free State teen stabbed to death

Mum, dad equal at recognising baby's cry

French researchers have dealt a blow to folklore that says mothers are better than fathers in recognising their baby's cry.

Salt-tolerant rice bred in Manila

Scientists have successfully bred a rice variety that is salt-tolerant, which could enable farmers to reclaim coastal areas rendered useless by sea water.

• Beer taste rewarding to the brain
• 'Sustainable fish' label under fire
• Bio-engineered rat kidneys give hope

Beer taste rewarding to the brain

The taste of beer, even without any effect from alcohol, triggers a key reward chemical in the brain, according to a new study that explores how people become hooked on booze.

• New iPhone app opens beer bottles
• Alaska gets turned on with beer power
• A drink a day keeps fat at bay

Transparent brain: What's on your mind

Scientists have developed a method to make a disembodied brain transparent, allowing them to study the organ's intricate wiring without having to slice it up.

• Obama proposes $100m brain project
• Brain project gets €2bn boost
• SA neuroscientist to build digital brain

Air pollution 'affects coral growth'

Researchers have found evidence that aerosols from burning fossil fuels are affecting the growth of corals in the Caribbean.

• Japan whaling haul at 'record low'
• Female octopuses stretch further
• Turtle species not extinct, never existed

Online translation on the rise

Machine translation dates back to the end of World War II, when coders realized that cryptography and deciphering were, in part, math problems.

• Pen translates while you read
• Firm launches real-time phone translation
• Computers will translate baby-talk

Researchers isolate adult stem cells

For the first time, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have isolated adult stem cells from human intestinal tissue.

• Stem cell technology may help immune cells
• Stem cells
• Stem cells used to produce blood platelets

New quest to study 'living fossil'

French and South African biologists will dive to deep-sea caves in the Indian Ocean in a bid to locate the coelacanth, the "living fossil" fish whose history predates the dinosaurs.

• Coelacanth even older than thought
• Coelacanth display wows
• Coelacanth movie filmed in E Cape

Surgeons perform 'warm' liver transplants

British surgeons say they have performed successful liver transplants on two patients using a revolutionary technique which keeps the organ warm and functioning while outside the body.

• Liver created from stem cells

Tasmanian devil vaccine breakthrough

Australian scientists has hailed a breakthrough discovery in the hunt for a vaccine against a savage facial tumour disease threatening the endangered Tasmanian devil.

• Tasmanian devils to get fresh start
• 'Devils' show cancer immunity
• Genome breakthrough for devils

Physicists closing in on 'God particle'

Physicists in Italy say they are closer to concluding that what they found last year, was the elusive "God particle”.

• Higgs delighted after particle milestone
• SA prof worked on finding Higgs particle
• Tears as 'Higgs-like' particle found

Teen crafts tool for early cancer detection

Jack Andraka, a typical US teenager, found a cheap way to detect cancer in the organ before it turns deadly.

• Artificial ear almost identical to real thing
• US regulators approve bionic eye
• Gene link to longevity in worms

Youth 'want death penalty reinstated'

The majority of young South Africans want the death penalty to be reinstated, consumer insights company Pondering Panda says.

• Minister rules out death penalty in SA
• Death penalty moratorium in UN
• UN countries back ending death penalty

Gene link to longevity in worms

Scientists know that having colder blood tends to make animals live longer, but they don't know why.

• Study traces humanity's origins
• Scientists 'print' 3D object with stem cells
• US regulators approve bionic eye

US regulators approve bionic eye

US regulators approved a so-called bionic eye, the first retinal implant for adults with advanced retinitis pigmentosa.

• Prototype 'bionic' eye revealed
• Bionic legs for paraplegics
• Scientists moving toward 'bionic' leg

Guppies love ugly friends, to look pretty

When it comes to mating, guppies treasure their ugly friends - because they look so good by comparison.

• Mackerel no longer sustainable fish
• Fish radiation levels top the charts
• Man will have smaller fish to fry