Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
A bioengineered protein may someday treat carbon monoxide poisoning
Mice treated with the protein, which is found in bacteria, quickly eliminated carbon monoxide from their body in their pee.
- Environment
River turbulence can push toxic pollutants into the air
Levels of hydrogen sulfide gas soared near a raging section of the Tijuana River in San Diego, exposing residents to potentially harmful air pollution.
- Health & Medicine
A new antiviral blocks 6 deadly viruses in mice but faces a long road ahead
Scientists report that targeting sugars on virus surfaces stopped multiple infections, though the approach needs much refinement before human trials.
- Health & Medicine
Elderly cats with dementia may hold clues for Alzheimer’s
Immune cells in aging cat brains with amyloid beta destroy nerve endings, mimicking the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
- Health & Medicine
Scientists perform the first pig-to-human lung transplant
The genetically modified lung remained viable for nine days, but the recipient’s immune responses need more research, scientists say.
- Health & Medicine
Shifting vaccine guidelines inject uncertainty into getting fall COVID shots
Respiratory viruses often surge in the fall. We asked an infectious diseases expert how best to protect ourselves given a shifting vaccine landscape.
- Health & Medicine
mRNA vaccines hold promise for many diseases. Now the tech is under fire
Researchers warn that halting federal contracts for mRNA vaccine research could weaken pandemic preparedness and slow medical advances.
- Health & Medicine
Measure blood sugar with a grain of salt
Continuous glucose monitors are now readily available. With guidance, they can help people make small dietary and lifestyle changes for better health.
- Health & Medicine
Could babies get bird flu through breast milk? Maybe, a study hints
H5N1 bird flu might infect human mammary glands, potentially allowing the virus to show up in breast milk.
- Humans
These female divers spend more time underwater than any other humans
At an average age of 70, these women divers in South Korea still forage in the sea up to 10 hours a day and spend more than half of that time underwater.
- Archaeology
Ancient hominids made long road trips to collect stone for tools
A Kenyan site shows early hominids transported stone 13 kilometers for toolmaking as early as 2.6 million years ago.
- Anthropology
A 104-centimeter-long hair could rewrite recordkeeping in Inca society
Analysis of the hair used in a knotted device reveals the owner’s simple diet. That suggests commoners, not just the elite, kept records in Inca society.
