Humans

  1. Health & Medicine

    Zika virus infects cells that make bone, muscle in lab tests

    Zika virus infects embryonic cranial cells in lab-grown minibrains, potentially altering face and skull shape and brain development, and maybe even contributing to microcephaly.

    By Meghan Rosen
  2. Health & Medicine

    Concern expands over Zika birth defects

    Infection with Zika virus in utero can trigger a spectrum of birth defects beyond microcephaly, and could potentially cause long-term health problems as well.

    By Meghan Rosen
  3. Animals

    New case emerging for Culex mosquito as unexpected Zika spreader

    The much-debated proposal that a Culex mosquito could help spread Zika gets some international support.

    By Susan Milius
  4. Health & Medicine

    Measles has been eliminated in the Americas, WHO says

    Thanks to wide-spread vaccination against the viral disease, measles has officially been declared eliminated from the Americas.

    By Meghan Rosen
  5. Archaeology

    Ancient Maya codex not fake, new analysis claims

    New report suggests an ancient Maya text — the bark-paper Grolier Codex — could be the oldest known document in Americas.

    By Bruce Bower
  6. Health & Medicine

    Sugar industry sought to sugarcoat causes of heart disease

    Sugar industry has long, sweet history of influencing science.

    By Laura Beil
  7. Health & Medicine

    It’s time to retire the five-second rule

    Wet food can slurp bacteria off the floor in less than a second.

    By Laura Sanders
  8. Genetics

    Single exodus from Africa gave rise to today’s non-Africans

    Genetics and climate studies differ on when modern humans left Africa.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  9. Archaeology

    Digital rehab exposes Biblical roots of ancient Israeli scroll

    Virtual unwrapping reveals Biblical text on charred remains of ancient Israeli scroll.

    By Bruce Bower
  10. Health & Medicine

    Phil Baran finds simple recipes for complex molecules

    Chemist Phil Baran draws on artistry and creativity to efficiently synthesize molecules that could improve people's lives.

    By Eva Emerson
  11. Neuroscience

    Jessica Cantlon seeks the origins of numerical thinking

    Cognitive neuroscientist Jessica Cantlon wants to find out how humans understand numbers and where that understanding comes from.

    By Elizabeth Quill
  12. Humans

    Lawrence David’s gut check gets personal

    Computational biologist Lawrence David regularly opens himself to new scientific challenges, including tracking his own microbiome.

    By Tina Hesman Saey