An anti-transposon pathway previously thought to function only in reproductive tissue also helps reduce harmful mutations in body cells of fruit flies.

A preliminary study suggests a few minutes of gargling mouthwash may help fight off the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, at least in the short term.

Selected Images of the Day

Reductions in the volume of gray matter in specific regions appear to represent synaptic pruning, a new study suggests, that tunes a mother’s brain to childcare.

Microcephaly is but one of the birth defects associated with infection in babies, a study suggests. The virus persists and replicates in the infant brain, according to another study.

Standard taxonomy lumps together bird species that should be separate, a new study suggests, raising the total number of estimated species from 9,000 to 18,000.

Anatomical analysis suggests monkeys possess all the hardware for human-like speech, they just lack the neurological capacity to use it.

Three patients experienced temporary, partial hearing loss while another saw sporadic flashes of light, indicating that Zika may have unexpected side effects. 

The iconic mammals have been declining in number for decades and could face extinction if conservation measures are not enacted.

Evidence of resistance to a “last-resort” drug for antibiotic-resistant bacteria is discovered among farm animals for the first time.

In a pair of clinical studies of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, participants reported positive changes to their moods and outlooks.

Meet some of the people featured in the December 2016 issue of The Scientist.