Humans
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Popular acid blockers, anticlotting drug don’t mix
Acid-blocking drugs commonly prescribed to cardiac patients upon hospital discharge seem to interfere with an anticlotting drug.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
One protein mediates damage from high-fructose diet
A study in mice suggests that a liver protein mediates the harmful effects of consuming too much fructose, an increasingly common aspect of Western diets.
- Health & Medicine
Out-of-sync days throw heart and metabolism out of whack
When people sleep may be just as important as how much they sleep. Altered sleep patterns can lead to heart disease and diabetes, a new study suggests.
- Life
Gene links autism, bellyaches
Researchers have uncovered a genetic link between autism and gastrointestinal disorders in some families.
- Health & Medicine
Where choices happen
Different types of decisions are made in different areas of the brain’s frontal lobes, scientists say.
- Humans
Playing for real in a virtual world
Preteen boys and girls interacting in a virtual world display the same contrasting play styles that have been observed in real-world settings.
By Bruce Bower - Humans
U.S. science remains far from ‘its rightful place’
Rush Holt, a plasma physicist by training, represents New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District in the U.S. Congress. From 1989 to 1998, Holt was assistant director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, a research institute focused on fusion as an alternate energy source. Holt was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998. Recently, staff writer […]
By Rush Holt - Physics
Science Stimulus
Researchers look to the new administration to bring fresh perspectives to health, energy, climate policy and science funding.
By Janet Raloff - Anthropology
Modern feet step back 1.5 million years
Researchers say that 1.5-million-year-old footprints discovered in eastern Africa show that a human ancestor had modern-looking feet and walked much like people do today.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
What’s good for the heart is good for the prostate
A new study finds that lower cholesterol levels slow the growth of prostate tumors in mice.
- Climate
Obama’s budget would boost science
Featured blog: Here's a preview of what science programs the Obama administration plans to push in the coming year's federal budget.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Stick to a low-cal diet and it will work
Summary: Overweight people on low-calorie diets lose weight equally well despite differences in how much fat, protein or carbohydrates the diet allows.
By Nathan Seppa