Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Limiting sugar in infancy reduces the risk of diabetes and hypertension
Children who experienced sugar rationing during World War II were less likely to develop some chronic illnesses as adults than those with no rationing.
- Science & Society
Using AI, historians track how astronomy ideas spread in the 16th century
A new AI machine learning technique helped historians analyze 76,000 pages from astronomy textbooks spanning nearly two centuries.
- Archaeology
A race to save Indigenous trails may change the face of archaeology
As construction of a pipeline nears, an effort to preserve an Indigenous trail in Canada tests whether heritage management can keep up with advances in archaeology.
- Health & Medicine
Are synthetic food dyes bad for you? Here’s what the science says.
California is banning them in schools. The FDA says they’re fine. But synthetic dyes added to food to make them more colorful have a long, troubled history.
- Health & Medicine
Drop in vaping drives tobacco product use by U.S. youth to a record low
The fewest number of U.S. middle and high school students are currently using tobacco products since the National Youth Tobacco Survey began in 1999.
- Health & Medicine
Male mosquitoes sometimes suck, too
Blood isn’t actually toxic to all male mosquitos. In at least one virus-carrying species, it may even help them live longer.
- Health & Medicine
A new implant tested in animals reverses drug overdoses
In pigs, the device detected overdoses and administered naloxone. It could also alert emergency services to respond.
- Archaeology
Silk Road cities reached surprising heights in Central Asia’s mountains
Drones with lasers revealed hidden urban centers that may have aided trade and travel through mountainous regions during medieval times.
- Health & Medicine
Once-weekly insulin might mean fewer shots for some with diabetes
Recent clinical trials of weekly insulin highlight how this formulation may be useful in managing diabetes, but the drug has limitations.
- Health & Medicine
Doula care may lead to fewer C-sections or preterm births
A new study comparing the health outcomes of Medicaid patients with and without a doula suggests the extra support during pregnancy may be beneficial.
- Science & Society
Is U.S. democracy in decline? Here’s what the science says
Political scientists disagree over how to interpret a slight dip in the health of U.S. democracy.
- Health & Medicine
50 years ago, chronic pain mystified scientists
Chronic pain has puzzled scientists for decades, but diagnoses and treatments have come a long way.
