Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Humans
Sweeps weak in human evolution
Contrary to conventional wisdom, the rapid spread of beneficial mutations has been relatively rare in the evolutionary history of Homo sapiens, a new study shows.
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- Life
Hibernation mystery
Somehow overwintering bears slow their metabolic rates far more than their slightly decreased body temperatures would predict.
- Health & Medicine
Saving preemies’ vision
A drug designed to fight cancer also may thwart aberrant blood vessel growth in the eyes of babies born preterm, a study finds.
- Humans
Ice Age cups crafted from crania
An English cave serves up the oldest known vessels made from human skulls
- Humans
Human ancestors have identity crisis
Fossils heralded as the remains of 4- to 7-million-year-old hominids might actually come from apes.
- Health & Medicine
Brain cells start sending signals early
Fetal neurons show firing patterns similar to those seen in sleeping adults.
- Humans
2012 budget offers pain and gain for R&D
In a year of federal belt-tightening, the administration prioritizes basic research, education, clean energy and environmental science.
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- Health & Medicine
Body & Brain
A controversy about the benefits of extensive breast cancer surgery, plus more in this week’s news.
- Tech
The numbers prove it: This is a data age
An assessment of the world’s computing capacity documents a staggering rise in power and storage since 1986.
