Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Neuroscience
Tinnitus causes widespread trouble
People don’t just hear the phantom ringing of tinnitus in the part of the brain that processes sounds.
- Neuroscience
Catching Zs may snag memories, too
Flies genetically destined to be forgetful could boost their memory with sleep.
- Genetics
Mosquito bites might be foretold in genes
Attractiveness to mosquitoes could be inherited, twin study suggests.
- Particle Physics
Particle hunting in space, life in the urban jungle and more reader feedback
Readers discuss wheat's journey to England, share stories about urban wildlife and more.
- Health & Medicine
Science may get sidelined in artificial turf debate
Despite news reports about the potential harms of artificial turf, studies find synthetic fields have few health risks, although lead levels may be elevated in older fields.
- Psychology
Big ears don’t necessarily come with baggage
In a small study, adults judged children and teens with big ears as intelligent and likable.
- Climate
The greatest natural disaster that almost was
The public’s response to the widest tornado ever recorded suggests earlier warnings need to be done right.
- Neuroscience
Being watched can boost productivity
In the company of another, a monkey steps up production on a simple job.
- Science & Society
Unbiased computer confirms media bias
A computer algorithm can identify a media outlet’s bias just by the quotes it chooses from political speeches, surrounding context aside.
- Health & Medicine
Apple’s ResearchKit wants your health data
Apple seeks recruits for health studies. But with uncertain measurements and lots of effort required to participate, the desire to help research may extend only so far.
- Life
‘Geographic tongue’ creates unique topography
A condition called ‘geographic tongue’ makes mouth organ appear maplike.
- Health & Medicine
Same mutations can show up in tumors, healthy tissues
Analyzing samples of healthy and tumor tissues could pinpoint which mutations are driving cancer and help develop better-targeted treatments.
