Science Daily

1. Wingless shapes the fly intestine

   A study reveals how the Wingless signalling pathway shapes the embryonic intestine of the Drosophila fly, activating a mechanism involved in calcium transport. The finding redefines the role of calcium in organ formation in developing organisms.

2. Scientists discover protein key to bacteria's survival in extreme environments

   The discovery sheds light on how certain bacteria -- including strains that cause food poisoning and anthrax -- form spores for survival.

3. How to stop being surprised by extreme weather

   A team of scientists have brought together methods to see beyond the limitations of conventional weather records, which typically only cover the past century.

4. Efficient development of drugs with fewer mice

   New active ingredients such as antibodies are usually tested individually in laboratory animals. Researchers have now developed a technology that can be used to test around 25 antibodies simultaneously in a single mouse. This should not only speed up the research and development pipeline for new drugs, but also hugely reduce the number of laboratory animals required.

5. Genetic study reveals hidden chapter in human evolution

   Modern humans descended from not one, but at least two ancestral populations that drifted apart and later reconnected, long before modern humans spread across the globe.