Humans

  1. Health & Medicine

    Benefits of omega-3 fatty acids tally up

    A study of patients with sepsis and a second in people with heart disease suggest the fish oil compound may aid health.

    By Nathan Seppa
  2. Climate

    IPCC relied on unvetted Himalaya melt figure

    British newspapers have uncovered what appears to be an embarrassing fact-checking omission by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. It regards the degree of glacial melting in the Himalayas — information that said parts of the area could be icefree a quarter century from now.

    By Janet Raloff
  3. Anthropology

    ‘Modern’ humans get an ancient, nonhuman twist

    Two new reports suggest that hominids other than Homo sapiens made complex stone tools and fancy necklaces.

    By Bruce Bower
  4. Earth

    Scientists scramble to analyze Haiti quake

    Teams work to understand and model what could happen next.

    By Kristina Bartlett Brody
  5. Health & Medicine

    BPA and babies: Feds acknowledge concerns

    Federal health and research officials outlined new guidance today for parents on the use of plastics made from bisphenol-A, a hard, clear plastic. Their bottom line: Minimize BPA-based products that could make contact with foods or drinks that infants or toddlers might consume — especially hot foods and drinks. But the Food and Drug Administration stopped short of recommending that parents pitch baby bottles and sippy cups made from BPA. Nor did it call for parents to avoid processed infant formulas and baby foods — some of which it acknowledges are contaminated with traces of BPA.

    By Janet Raloff
  6. Earth

    Copenhagen Meeting Highlights

    Find all the Science News coverage of the 2009 United Nation's climate summit in one place.

    By Janet Raloff
  7. Humans

    Zeus’ altar of ashes

    News from the Archaeological Institute of America's annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif.

    By Bruce Bower
  8. Humans

    Graffiti on the walls in Pompeii

    News from the Archaeological Institute of America's annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif.

    By Bruce Bower
  9. Humans

    Copenhagen climate summit yields ‘real deal’ to limit greenhouse gases

    Nonbinding accord still needs beefing up, negotiators agree.

    By Janet Raloff
  10. Psychology

    Newborns nurse long-term memories of smells

    Newborn babies readily link specific scents to breast-feeding and favor those smells as toddlers.

    By Bruce Bower
  11. Health & Medicine

    Study supports connection between BPA and heart disease

    U.S. population data reveal possible relationship between cardiovascular risk and plastics chemical.

    By Rachel Ehrenberg
  12. Health & Medicine

    Gene variant might guard against Alzheimer’s, other dementia

    Same form has been linked to longevity and ‘good’ cholesterol levels.

    By Nathan Seppa