Humans
Sign up for our newsletter
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Archaeology
Europe’s oldest stone hand axes emerge in Spain
Researchers report identifying Europe’s oldest stone hand axes at Spanish sites dating to 900,000 and 760,000 years ago.
By Bruce Bower - Animals
Play that monkey music
Man-made music inspired by tamarin calls seems to alter the primates’ emotions, a new study suggests.
- Health & Medicine
Obesity surgery’s benefits extend to next generation
Children born to women who have undergone weight-loss surgery are healthier than children born to moms who are severely obese, a study shows.
By Nathan Seppa - Earth
Sun is setting on incandescent era
After more than a century, Edison's light bulbs stand poised to go extinct.
By Janet Raloff - Earth
Cash for clunkers II: Appliances
States could soon roll out programs that help consumers replace energy hogging home appliances.
By Janet Raloff - Psychology
Morality Play
Universal concerns, not cultural values, may shape kids’ developing notions of right and wrong.
By Bruce Bower - Earth
A trip to the garbage patch
Scientists bring back samples from the oceanic garbage patch off the coast of California.
- Humans
New genes give gut bacteria antibiotic resistance
Scientists find new genes for antibiotic resistance in common bacteria in the human gut.
- Life
Domesticated silkworms’ secrets
After mapping the genetic book of instructions for wild and domesticated silkworms, scientists identify changes associated with the taming of these caterpillars.
- Chemistry
Nitrous oxide fingered as monster ozone slayer
Nitrous oxide has become the leading threat to the future integrity of stratospheric ozone, scientists report.
By Janet Raloff - Humans
Girls have head start on snake and spider fears
At 11 months of age, girls quickly learn to associate fearful faces with images of snakes and spiders, a new study suggests.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Probiotics: Better off dead?
Treating the gut to microbial therapy doesn't necessarily require using live bacteria.
By Janet Raloff