Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Anthropology
Chilean desert cemetery tells tale of ancient trade specialists
Burial site holds clues to ancient trade brokers in Chilean desert.
- Science & Society
A bot, not a Kardashian, probably wrote that e-cig tweet
Some 80 percent of recent e-cigarette-related tweets were promotional in nature, raising concerns that the positive spin is targeting a young audience.
- Neuroscience
Whistled language uses both sides of the brain
Unlike spoken words, language made of whistles processed by both sides of the brain.
- Health & Medicine
Five reasons to not totally panic about ticks and Lyme disease
We’ve been trained to panic about tick bites and Lyme disease. There are risks to both — and here are some key facts.
- Health & Medicine
Recent advances may improve Jimmy Carter’s chances against melanoma
Improvements in melanoma treatment over the last five years may aid former President Jimmy Carter’s battle against the disease.
- Genetics
Gene thought to cause obesity works indirectly
Researchers have discovered a “genetic switch” that determines whether people will burn extra calories or save them as fat.
- Science & Society
Contentious science topics on Wikipedia subject to editing mischief
Global warming and other politically charged issues are prime targets for sabotage on Wikipedia.
- Health & Medicine
Stiff cellular environment links obesity to breast cancer
Obesity may directly support tumor growth by making a cell’s surroundings stiffer.
- Health & Medicine
‘Vomiting device’ sounds gross but it helps study infections
Scientists created a “vomiting device” to study how norovirus spreads through the air.
- Life
Experimental MERS vaccine shows promise
An experimental vaccine against the MERS virus triggers immune protection, a new study finds.
- Health & Medicine
Study finds early signs of bookishness in a child’s brain
Children from book-friendly homes show higher brain activity when they hear a story, but there’s more to learn about how reading affects growing brains.
- Health & Medicine
Teen e-cig users more likely to smoke tobacco
E-cigarette use is linked to later tobacco use in teens.
