Humans
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Animals
Extensive toolkits give chimps a taste of honey
Chimps living in central Africa’s dense forests make and use complex sets of tools to gather honey from beehives, further narrowing the gap between the way humans and chimps use tools.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Pancreatic cancer linked to herbicides
Featured blog: Some weed killers may need to be treated with more respect.
By Janet Raloff - Chemistry
Deadly mushroom toxin exposed
Researchers have isolated and identified a muscle-destroying compound in some mushrooms.
- Life
The case of the disappearing fingerprints
One potential side effect of an anti-cancer drug: identity theft.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
NFL heart profile good, with a caveat
Football players have higher blood pressure on average, new study finds.
By Nathan Seppa - Humans
Hand tools can pose cardiovascular risks
Research homes in on how high frequency vibrations from power tools exert damage to blood vessels in the hands.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Industry attempts to influence medical care
A new survey takes a national look at academic medical researchers' ties to industry and their vulnerability to undue influence.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Sensitivity to alcohol connected with alcoholism risk
People for whom alcohol has little effect face a greater risk of developing alcoholism than those who get drunk easily.
By Nathan Seppa - Humans
The inner worlds of conspiracy believers
A study of British volunteers finds that those who endorse 9/11 conspiracy theories also believe in other sorts of conspiracies and share certain personality characteristics.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Neurons take a break during stage 2 sleep
Electrical markers associated with stage 2 sleep indicate downtime for neurons.
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- Health & Medicine
Air pollution makes chromosomes look older
Traffic exhaust appears to shorten telomeres, a sign of cellular aging.
By Janet Raloff