Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Archaeology
Shipwrecks harbor evidence of ancient sophistication
Research on shipwrecks from two ancient, submerged harbors shows that frame-based shipbuilding emerged surprisingly early and then became more sophisticated within a few hundred years.
- Math
Calculating the geography of crime
A mathematician fine-tunes how to blend crime records, geography to track down serial criminals.
- Health & Medicine
Sirtuin shown to control gene activity
A previously overlooked protein called SIRT6 provides some molecular clues to aging.
- Humans
Migrants settled New World in tandem
A genetic investigation of two rare types of mitochondrial DNA in Native Americans suggests that people first entered the Americas in two groups, following separate routes.
- Health & Medicine
Record low for human blood oxygen levels
Study of Mt. Everest climbers shows some bodies can tolerate low oxygen levels that are toxic to others.
- Health & Medicine
Early C-sections pose risks
Babies delivered by elective cesarean section just a week or two before 39 weeks of gestation face increased risk of respiratory and other complications.
- Health & Medicine
Parkinson’s brain surgery works in older patients, too
A surgery in which two tiny electrodes are placed in the brain improves the quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s disease, including older patients, and seems to have only short-term side effects.
- Health & Medicine
Bone-growth drugs may increase jaw disease risk
New study finds link between common drug and jawbone death.
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- Humans
Stone Age tools go south
Diamond-mining pits have yielded stone artifacts old enough to suggest that hand axe production started 1.6 million years ago in southern Africa, not just in eastern Africa.
- Health & Medicine
Fewer dopamine receptors makes for risky business
Brain-scanning study in people sees link between personality, dopamine system.
- Health & Medicine
Disturbed sleep tied to Parkinson’s risk
People who have a disorder that causes them to thrash and kick during sleep face a high risk of developing Parkinson’s disease or other neurodegenerative disorders.
