Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Archaeology
Ancient granaries preceded the Agricultural Revolution
Granaries excavated in Jordan indicate that people stored large quantities of wild cereals by about 11,300 years ago, a practice that led to the cultivation of domesticated plants, a new study suggests.
- Health & Medicine
Downside of red-hot chili peppers
In the wild, a culinary kick comes with risks to the plant.
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- Humans
Seeking genetic fate
Personal genomics companies offer forecasts of disease risk, but the science behind the packaging is still evolving.
- Health & Medicine
A role for Merkels
Mysterious skin cells known as Merkel cells are required to sense light touches.
- Health & Medicine
Gene silencing in colorectal cancer may prove useful
Genetic irregularity in colorectal cancer cells might serve as a biomarker of risk for this malignancy.
- Computing
Asia: One reason America can’t afford to jettison good teachers
Asia appears to prize science and tech education far more than America does, and the result may be a waning of the West's economic and entrepreneurial dominance.
- Health & Medicine
Gene plus stress equals depression debate
A reanalysis of data challenges a prominent report that a particular gene variant interacts with stressful experiences to promote depression, sparking controversy.
- Health & Medicine
CT scan nearly as good as regular colonoscopy
Virtual colonoscopy might suffice for people at high risk of colorectal cancer, a new study finds.
- Humans
‘CRAP’ paper accepted for publication
Find out what happens when a joke, a hoax manuscript, is submitted to an open-access journal.
- Life
Estrogen may reprogram prostate cancer gene in black men
Study finds a lack of chemical tags near a prostate cancer gene in African American males.
- Archaeology
Engraved pigments point to ancient symbolic tradition
Analyses of patterns incised on pieces of ancient pigment indicate that people in southern Africa passed along symbolic practices from 100,000 to 75,000 years ago, scientists say.
