Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Humans
National Academies Press offers free downloads
On June 2, the National Academies Press opened up its library to all of us. It now permits free downloads of PDFs for all of its volumes by anyone willing to free up the gigabytes on his or her hard drive.
- Humans
Ancestral gals roamed, guys stayed home
Females in two ancient hominid species may have left their home groups to find mates.
- Health & Medicine
Spotting newborns at risk of hearing loss
Testing for cytomegalovirus in saliva of infants can identify those harboring the virus, a new study shows.
- Tech
Nuclear energy: As Germany goes…
The German government surprised many energy analysts May 30, with its pledge to phase out use of nuclear power. What makes the announcement particularly noteworthy is that this government is not offering to walk away from a bit player. Nuclear power currently supplies almost one-quarter of that nation’s electrical energy — more than its share in the United States.
- Psychology
Kids own up to ownership
Children value personal ownership more than adults do and may need to learn when to disregard possessive urges.
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- Health & Medicine
Body & Brain
Cancer treatment raises stroke risk, plus ankle-powered sprints, irregular heartbeats and more in this week’s news.
- Physics
What it means to ‘feel the noise’
Scientists investigating the nexus between sound and touch suggest that the ear arose from skin.
- Tech
Cans bring BPA to dinner, FDA confirms
Federal chemists have confirmed what everyone had expected: that if a bisphenol-A-based resin is used to line most food cans, there’s a high likelihood the contents of those cans will contain at least traces of BPA.
- Health & Medicine
Bacterial meningitis keeps falling
Vaccination against a strep bacterium and other microbes has proved a potent deterrent over the past decade, a nationwide survey shows.
- Humans
Skeptical scientists call 1-800-BALONEY on cell phone study
Findings on brain effects are vigorously attacked and just as strenuously defended.
- Health & Medicine
Clues to autism’s roots from brain study
A new analysis finds differences in genetic activity, especially in genes controlling nerve cell form and function.
