Humans
- Earth
Africa’s bumper crop of dust
Seafloor sediments show that agriculture has greatly boosted airborne dust in the last two centuries.
- Psychology
Ancient hominids grabbed early northern exposure
Newly recovered stone tools indicate that hominids lived in chilly northwestern Europe more than 800,000 years ago.
- Health & Medicine
Protein regulator shows promise against addiction
Elevating levels of a tiny molecule in rats’ brains blunted the animals’ cocaine use.
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- Health & Medicine
Vaccine for Marburg virus passes monkey test
Tests suggest that the lethal hemorrhagic virus can be stopped if countered soon after exposure.
- Tech
What Jefferson was thinking
Imaging technology reveals a last-minute revision to the Declaration of Independence.
- Health & Medicine
Fructose sweeteners may hike blood pressure
The more fructose American adults add to their diets, the higher their blood pressure tends to be. The new finding adds fuel to a simmering controversy about whether this simple sugar — found in fruits, table sugar, soft drinks and many baked goods — poses a health hazard that goes beyond simply consuming too many empty calories.
- Humans
Botox injections put a crease in emotional evaluations
By immobilizing a muscle needed for frowning, Botox injections may interfere with a person’s ability to assess others’ emotions.
- Health & Medicine
For most centenarians, longevity is written in the DNA
A study of people who live past 100 reveals many genetic paths to a long life.
- Health & Medicine
Breast screening tool finds many missed cancers
A relatively new imaging option outperforms all comers in scouting for hidden breast tumors. Indeed, argues radiologist Rachel Brem, her team’s new data indicate that that “almost 10 percent of women with breast cancer have another [tumor] that we wouldn’t know about without this technology.”
- Health & Medicine
Stem cells from blood a ‘huge’ milestone
New technique promises to be easier, cheaper and faster than other harvesting methods.
- Earth
Ivy nanoparticles promise sunblocks and other green products
I’ve developed a love-hate relationship with English ivy that’s been devolving towards hate-hate. But a new paper may temper my antipathy. Apparently this backyard bully also offers a kinder, gentler alternative to the potentially toxic metal-based nanoparticles used in today’s sunscreens.
