Humans
- Health & Medicine
Whooping cough vaccine may still allow some level of infection
Animal tests show pertussis shots stave off symptoms but allow spread of the bacteria.
By Nathan Seppa -
- Health & Medicine
Drug use on the rise in older set
The use of illicit drugs has declined slightly over the last decade among teens but is growing more common in people over age 50.
- Psychology
Almost-lifelike hands perceived as creepy
Devices have to be very realistic to the escape uncanny valley of eeriness.
- Health & Medicine
Experiments in pasta
In discovery mode, babies gather every bit of information they can about the world around them.
- Anthropology
Little Red Riding Hood gets an evolutionary makeover
A statistical analysis attempts to track the rise of several widespread folktales.
By Bruce Bower - Humans
Babies may have basic body perception at birth
Newborns may enter the world with the basic systems to distinguish their bodies from those of other people.
- Health & Medicine
Eating nuts may extend a person’s life
People who regularly ate peanuts or tree nuts were less likely to die during decades-long studies.
By Nathan Seppa - Genetics
Ancient Siberian bones clarify Native American origins
Some New World ancestors came from western Eurasia, not East Asia.
- Life
Blood clotting disorder blocked in dogs
Gene therapy stopped severe bleeding in dogs with the blood clotting disorder hemophilia.
- Health & Medicine
Cage temps change tumor growth in mice
Cooler living conditions may influence lab mice's responses to experimental cancer therapies that target the immune system.
- Anthropology
Human ancestors threw stone-tipped spears at prey
African discoveries show that hunting weapons thrown from a distance appeared by 279,000 years ago.
By Bruce Bower