Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Science & Society
What we do and don’t know about how to prevent gun violence
Background checks work to prevent gun violence; concealed carry and stand-your-ground laws don’t. But lack of data makes it hard to make other links.
- Anthropology
Museum mummies sport world’s oldest tattoo drawings
A wild bull and symbolic designs were imprinted on the bodies of two Egyptians at least 5,000 years ago.
- Science & Society
Discussing what matters when facts are not enough
Editor in Chief Nancy Shute reflects on finding common ground with science and policy.
- Health & Medicine
Newer drugs make hepatitis C-positive kidneys safe for transplant
People without hepatitis C did not contract the disease after receiving successful transplants of infected kidneys along with newer antiviral drugs.
- Anthropology
Humans don’t get enough sleep. Just ask other primates.
Short, REM-heavy sleep bouts separate humans from other primates, scientists find. Sleeping on the ground may have a lot to do with it.
- Artificial Intelligence
In the future, an AI may diagnose eye problems
Artificial intelligence could help diagnose blinding eye diseases and other illnesses, speeding up medical care in areas where specialists might be scarce.
- Health & Medicine
Human skin bacteria have cancer-fighting powers
Strains of a bacteria that live on human skin make a compound that suppressed tumor growth in mice.
- Microbes
A new way to make bacteria glow could simplify TB screening
A new dye to stain tuberculosis bacteria in coughed-up mucus and saliva could expedite TB diagnoses and drug-resistance tests.
- Health & Medicine
When it comes to baby’s growth, early pregnancy weight may matter more than later gains
Women’s weight before and during the first half of pregnancy may be most important indicators of baby’s birth weight.
- Health & Medicine
Global Virome Project is hunting for more than 1 million unknown viruses
Scientists are searching for viruses lurking in animals that could threaten human health.
- Archaeology
Cave art suggests Neandertals were ancient humans’ mental equals
Ancient humans’ close relatives also created rock art and shell ornaments, studies assert.
- Health & Medicine
50 years ago, early organ transplants brought triumph and tragedy
In 1968, the liver transplant field had its first small successes. Now, more than 30,000 patients in the U.S. receive a donated liver each year.
