Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Gel shows promise against HIV
Scientists have developed the first topical treatment that can prevent HIV infection among women.
- Agriculture
Germs eyed to make foods safer
Adding viruses to foods doesn’t sound appetizing, much less healthy. But it’s a stratagem being explored to knock some of the more virulent food poisoning bacteria out of the U.S. food supply. Scientists described data supporting the tactic July 18 at the Institute of Food Technologists’ annual meeting in Chicago.
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- Psychology
DNA variant may make heavy boozing a team sport
People who inherit a particular gene variant may find it more appealing to drink a lot of alcohol when they see others doing so.
- Health & Medicine
Genetics may underlie some kidney failure in blacks
Gene variants that offer protection against African sleeping sickness may also put carriers at renal risk, a new study finds.
- Health & Medicine
Everyone poops his or her own viruses
The viral denizens of a person’s intestines are unique and don’t change much over time, a study suggests.
- Health & Medicine
Body shape may affect mental acuity
Among women 65 to 79, big apples performed better than plump pears on tests of memory and reasoning.
- Health & Medicine
Antiaging protein also boosts learning and memory
An antiaging molecule also helps keep the mind sharp.
- Health & Medicine
Proteins last longer in the brain
A study in mice could lead to a better understanding of aging, Alzheimer’s and other degenerative processes.
- Health & Medicine
Critics point to flaws in longevity study
BLOG: A study showing a genetic basis for exceptionally long life in humans has come under fire from critics.
- Health & Medicine
Newly discovered antibodies may boost AIDS vaccine research
Inducing production of these potent HIV neutralizers will pose a challenge.
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