Brain-shocking therapy may work by boosting calcium in the brain
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which uses electricity to boost the brain, seems to push up levels of signalling molecule calcium
Eyeless cave shrimp senses light and can live frozen in ice
The tiny crustacean's superpowers include "seeing" even though it's got no eyes, and living on even after being frozen alive in its icy cave habitat
New maths proof shows how to stack oranges in 24 dimensions
Mathematicians have discovered the best way to pack spheres in 8 and 24 dimensions - the first real progress on this geometric mystery in almost two decades
Artificial cell designed in lab reveals genes essential to life
Bacteria created in Craig Venter's lab breaks record for smallest genome and could help reveal secrets of life
Asteroid barrage may have birthed a short-lived ocean on Mars
How Mars acquired and then lost its water is a mystery, but a period of large asteroid impacts 4 billion years ago could provide an explanation
The evolution of the nose: why is the human hooter so big?
The human nose is unique among primates – but fresh evidence shows it is poor at regulating temperature, raising doubts over its assumed adaptation to climate
Zika arrived in the Americas two years earlier than thought
Zika was brought to the Americas in 2013, possibly carried by a football fan from Polynesia. Increased migration in the south means that other, currently obscure viruses are likely to follow
Security missed Brussels bombs – but could sensors spot them?
New technologies that scan for explosives remotely could let the crowds keep moving, and may even catch bomb makers in the act
Gecko Gripper blasts off to help design space-crawling robots
Tuesday's Cygnus launch to the International Space Station carried material inspired by gecko feet. It could help robots crawl over the ISS's exterior
Embryo cells decide their future only two days after conception
The identical-looking cells of a four-cell embryo have already started deciding their fates, a discovery that could improve IVF and stem cell therapies
