Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Zika hasn’t been in the news much, but that doesn’t mean it’s gone
Cases of Zika have dropped as more people become exposed, but the virus will likely emerge again in the future.
- Psychology
Whether psychology research is improving depends on whom you ask
Psychologists are pessimistic about the state of their field but want to improve, a survey shows. But are new measures working?
- Health & Medicine
Using high-nicotine e-cigarettes may boost vaping and smoking in teens
Vaping higher concentrations of nicotine is linked to how much and how often teens smoke and vape months later, a new study finds.
- Genetics
New CRISPR gene editors can fix RNA and DNA one typo at a time
New gene editors can correct common typos that lead to disease.
- Health & Medicine
C-sections lead to heftier mouse pups, but the implications for people aren’t clear
Mice born via C-section gained more weight than mice born vaginally, adding to the body of research that hints at a link between birth mode and future health.
- Health & Medicine
Robotic docs can boost surgery time and cost
Robots in the OR may not be worth the extra time or money for all procedures.
- Genetics
Mating with Neandertals reintroduced ‘lost’ DNA into modern humans
Neandertal DNA brought back some old genetic heirlooms to modern humans.
- Environment
Pollution killed 9 million people in 2015
First global look estimates the massive human and financial toll caused by pollution-related health problems.
- Anthropology
Scientists battle over whether violence has declined over time
People are no more violent in small-scale societies than in states, researchers contend.
- Health & Medicine
Laws to protect athletes’ brains do reduce concussions — eventually
Recurrent concussions among high school athletes went down about 2½ years after traumatic brain injury laws were on the books, a new study finds.
- Life
The next wave of bird flu could be worse than ever
Deadly bird flu can pass between ferrets through the air.
- Health & Medicine
Animal study reveals how a fever early in pregnancy can cause birth defects
Using chicken embryos, study shows that heat itself, not an infectious agent, is the driving factor behind certain heart and facial birth defects.
