Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Artificial Intelligence
AI may respond differently to bosses and subordinates
In simulated conversations, social hierarchy can sway AI agents, making lower-status systems more likely to follow harmful requests.
- Health & Medicine
Here’s what the first mRNA flu vaccine could mean for flu season
Compared with standard flu shots, Moderna’s mFlusiva generates stronger, longer-lasting immunity and is more effective at preventing infection, data show.
- Anthropology
Sugar may have been a key ingredient in human evolution
A sweet tooth for sugars from fruits and honey may have helped fuel brain growth in our primate cousins and early human ancestors, a new study suggests.
- Health & Medicine
Bullfrogs may have an antidote to deadly shellfish poisoning
Researchers injected mice with a protein derived from frogs to save them from the same kind of shellfish poisoning that affects people.
- Artificial Intelligence
Is AI making us dumber? Maybe not. But our skills are at risk
Studies suggest AI can weaken learning when it replaces effort, but tools that guide rather than answer may help people keep their skills.
- Health & Medicine
To detect CTE while alive, a test for another brain disease may help
A protein that is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease may also ID a brain condition associated with head trauma in contact sports, early findings suggest.
- Health & Medicine
The protein craze may not be for everyone
Getting more protein has been all the rage. In sedentary people, that advice could accelerate aging.
- Health & Medicine
How one amino acid might help fight colon cancer and infections
Dietary arginine reduces tumor formation and viral load in mice by boosting key immune proteins.
- Health & Medicine
Healthy pregnancies and newborns are possible after CAR T cell therapy
Women who received treatment for autoimmune diseases with CAR T cell therapy went on to have regular pregnancies and healthy babies.
- Climate
What’s to blame for Canada’s wildfires?
The inferno that sent toxic smoke billowing toward the United States won't be the last. Officials are now battling both the wildfires and misinformation.
- Artificial Intelligence
Struggling with a hard life choice? AI future selves have tips
A chat with aged avatars of future selves can guide people paralyzed by tough decisions. The question is what information to feed the bots.
- Science & Society
The golden age of language was a few thousand years ago
A few millennia ago, people worldwide may have spoken or signed up to 10 times as many languages as they do today.
