Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Microcephaly: Building a case against Zika
Zika virus is the prime suspect for Brazil’s recent surge in birth defects. New evidence in human cells strengthens the case, but more definitive proof could come this summer from Colombia, where thousands of pregnant women have been infected.
- Psychology
Psychology’s replication crisis sparks new debate
Controversy flares again about whether psychology studies survive further scrutiny.
- Health & Medicine
Scientists probe Zika’s link to neurological disorder
The link between the Zika virus and Guillain-Barré syndrome is growing stronger.
- Archaeology
11,000-year-old pendant with etched design found in England
Stone artifact with design etched on it comes from a transitional time in England 11,000 years ago.
- Health & Medicine
Explaining Henry VIII’s erratic behavior
Researchers say Henry VIII suffered several traumatic brain injuries that may explain his explosive outbursts and memory problems.
- Archaeology
Tailored Egyptian dress is the oldest ever found
A pleated dress found in an ancient Egyptian cemetery called Tarkhan was cut, fitted and tailored between 5,400 and 5,100 years ago.
- Health & Medicine
There’s more than one way to quit smoking
Three therapies to quit smoking are all about equally effective in the long term, a new study finds.
- Oceans
Gulf oil spill could hasten corrosion of shipwrecks
Oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster could hasten the corrosion of historical shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico, new studies of marine microbes suggest.
- Neuroscience
Brain cells aglow after viral delivery
The virus AAV-PHP.B proves best at delivering genes to brain cells in mice. Similar viruses may eventually be used for gene therapy in humans.
- Health & Medicine
Vaginal ring somewhat effective at preventing HIV infection
Studies of vaginal ring for HIV protection show promise, challenges.
- Psychology
Psychologist probes possible link between prodigy, autism
The Prodigy’s Cousin explores the baffling world of child prodigies and people with autism.
- Genetics
Dads pass health effects of stress on to sons, mouse study finds
In mice, males exposed to repeated psychological stress developed high blood sugar — and so did their unstressed male offspring.
