Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
Prions complicit in Alzheimer’s disease
A study in mice suggests a version of prion proteins, which are known to cause the brain-wasting mad cow and Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases, may also play a role in neuron malfunction.
- Humans
DOE wants to become more like Bell Labs
Steven Chus prizes DOE's research prowess, but not it's ability to marshall its discoveries into marketable innovations.
- Life
Tastes like metal
Scientists have discovered that proteins that help sense sweet and spice also help taste metals.
- Math
Mathematician answers Supreme Court plea
New, fair method for dividing states into congressional districts could reduce political squabbles.
- Health & Medicine
B vitamins, folic acid may protect vision
Vitamin B and folic acid supplements might defend against macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
- Health & Medicine
Sunshine vitamin diminishes risk of colds, flu
A study of nearly 19,000 adults shows that people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to develop colds, flu and pneumonia.
- Health & Medicine
Breast cancer drug gets boost
Natural protein could make the most aggressive breast cancers vulnerable tamoxifen, and may even prevent the cancer’s spread.
- Health & Medicine
Taking age stereotypes to heart
A long-term investigation indicates that young and middle-aged adults who hold negative attitudes about the elderly are more likely to have heart ailments and strokes later in life.
- Health & Medicine
Possible genetic flag for brain cancer
Mutations in IDH genes show up in many brain cancers, but the genes’ role remains unclear.
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- Psychology
Don’t worry, get attention training
New studies suggest that a short course of attention training offers as much relief to sufferers of two common anxiety disorders as psychotherapy or medication.
- Agriculture
Predators zoom in on lice-infested salmon
New research reveals another impact of fish farming on wild stocks.
