Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Neuroscience
Famous brain surgery patient H.M. retained a chunk of hippocampus
The patient's amnesia was probably due to the loss of other regions and neural connections.
- Life
Molecule stops MERS spread among cultured human cells
The molecule interacts with the protein the MERS virus uses to enter a cell.
- Health & Medicine
Nanopackaging biodegrades after delivering cancer drug
DNA binding creates potentially nontoxic tumor-targeting structures.
- Health & Medicine
Low semen levels in mice make for fatter sons
Mice without the glands that make semen may sire sons with more body fat.
- Genetics
Stone Age Spaniard had blue eyes, dark skin
Genetics of 7,000-year-old skeleton suggests blond hair, pale skin came later.
- Health & Medicine
Ancient history of canine cancer decoded
A contagious cancer has been plaguing dogs for 11,000 years, a new genetic analysis reveals.
- Humans
Small fetal size early on might carry risks later
A smaller size in first trimester of pregnancy has been linked to heart-health warning signs in childhood.
- Archaeology
Stone Age fishing spear found on Southeast Asian island
Notched piece of bone found near Indonesia illustrates surprisingly complex tool making 35,000 years ago.
- Archaeology
After 2,000 years, Ptolemy’s war elephants are revealed
A genetic study sheds light on world’s only known battle between Asian and African elephants.
- Health & Medicine
Vaccine vindication
At least 103 million cases of childhood disease have been prevented by vaccines since 1924.
- Health & Medicine
How to read a book to your baby
To help your baby get the most out of story time, turn the story into a conversation, not a monologue.
- Anthropology
Skulls from ancient London suggest ritual decapitations
The city’s Roman rulers had special watery places to keep the heads of military enemies or vanquished gladiators.
