Humans

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Health & Medicine

    Cancer fighting green tea may have a dark side

    This herbal remedy can short-circuit one of the few useful therapies for largely incurable blood cancers.

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  2. Humans

    Federal R&D downturn preceded ‘08 economic crash

    Federal R&D spending looks grim — until you compare it to the U.S. economy in general.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    How the body rubs out West Nile virus

    Tests in mice show how the immune system tracks down cells infected with West Nile virus, findings that might explain why some old people fare worst from the virus.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    Melamine-tainted infant formula linked to kidney stones

    Three new studies link the melamine tainting of infant formula in China with a greatly elevated risk that babies will develop potentially dangerous, symptom-free kidney stones.

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  5. Chemistry

    New money for undergraduate research

    A new program will foster interdisciplinary physical-science research at predominantly undergraduate colleges.

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  6. Humans

    On Science & the Fearsome OMB

    President Obama has directed federal budget masters to put public interests first when they review proposed regulations.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    Needles can stick it to pain

    Acupuncture lessens pain, but so do needles randomly stuck in the skin, a new analysis shows.

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  8. Chemistry

    Nonstick chemicals linked to infertility

    Featured blog: Infertility doubled in women who had high concentrations of commercially produced nonstick chemicals polluting their blood.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    Chocolate may have arrived early to U.S. Southwest

    A new study suggests that people in America’s Southwest were making cacao beverages as early as A.D. 1000.

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  10. Humans

    When dreams come true

    People see hidden truths in their dreams and use dreams to guide waking attitudes and behaviors, especially when dream content supports pre-existing beliefs, researchers say.

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  11. Humans

    The Dating Go Round

    Speed dating offers scientists a peek at how romance actually blossoms.

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  12. Health & Medicine

    Excess blood sugar could harm cognition

    Chronically high blood sugar levels in elderly people with diabetes seem to contribute to worsened cognitive function, a study shows.

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