Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Earth
California may yet get the first greenhouse gas limits for cars
President Obama decides to revisit a controversial decision made less than a year ago by his predecessor.
- Humans
Women have hormonal cues for baby cuteness
Premenopausal women and women taking oral contraceptives are especially sensitive to the cuteness of babies’ faces, partly thanks to raised levels of reproductive hormones, a new study suggests.
- Life
Molecular link between vitamin D deficiency and MS
Scientists have discovered a molecular link that may help explain why Vitamin D deficiency is associated with multiple sclerosis.
- Humans
Obama’s new directive on energy efficiency
New appliance standards are coming, the president reported today.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Chemistry
New money for undergraduate research
A new program will foster interdisciplinary physical-science research at predominantly undergraduate colleges.
- Humans
On Science & the Fearsome OMB
President Obama has directed federal budget masters to put public interests first when they review proposed regulations.
- Health & Medicine
Needles can stick it to pain
Acupuncture lessens pain, but so do needles randomly stuck in the skin, a new analysis shows.
- Chemistry
Nonstick chemicals linked to infertility
Featured blog: Infertility doubled in women who had high concentrations of commercially produced nonstick chemicals polluting their blood.
