Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Potentially potent chemo target in sight
A fruit fly protein that helps control cell differentiation may be a powerful target for stopping human cancers.
- Health & Medicine
Breast cancer costs poor people more
Out-of-pocket costs of breast cancer hit poor individuals the hardest.
- Health & Medicine
Soy compound revs up cancer fighter in healthy tissue
A lab study of healthy breast tissue cells shows increases in the tumor suppressor protein PTEN in the presence of soy isoflavone genistein, a compound believed to fight breast cancer.
- Health & Medicine
Breast density signals tamoxifen’s effectiveness
Decreasing breast density signals the drug tamoxifen is working in women at risk of developing breast cancer.
- Archaeology
Tools with handles even more ancient
An analysis of stone tools excavated at a Syrian site indicates that, around 70,000 years ago, Neandertals used a tarlike adhesive to affix sharpened items to handles.
- Chemistry
Of Presidents and Nobels
It appears Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will soon have produced two Nobel laureates to offer White House counsel and directives on science policy.
- Health & Medicine
Stronger role for a breast cancer drug
Going beyond its original role as an add-on for chemotherapy, the breast cancer drug lapatinib, when taken with another kind of frontline drug, may find use for patients with the HER2-positive form of the cancer.
- Health & Medicine
Gene could drive species separation
Newly identified fruit fly gene provides evidence for “cheating genes” that may cause species schisms
- Tech
Obama selects Steven Chu as Energy Secretary
Featured blog: Chu is an energy researcher who also shared the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics.
- Chemistry
ENV Tidbits: Corals, nano concerns, and more
News nuggets on climate-imperiled corals, nanotech worries, and soft drinks bearing pesticides.
- Health & Medicine
In the brain, justice is served from many parts
Imaging study reveals variation in brain activity depending on the severity of punishment a person decides.
- Health & Medicine
Pollutants in the womb can trigger adult cancers
Mouse study shows fetal exposure to carcinogens may pose long-term risks.
