Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Chemistry
Engineered bacteria create high-energy biofuel
Scientists alter E. coli microbes to make a high-energy alcohol not produced naturally
- Humans
When giving gifts, the price is wrong
Gift givers expect that expensive presents will be appreciated by gift receivers more than inexpensive presents, but three new investigations suggest that that’s not the case.
- Health & Medicine
Malaria vaccine closer to reality
The success of two trials sets the stage for a final, large-scale trial that could mean approval of what would be the first vaccine against Malaria.
- Humans
Obama Could Learn from ‘Junk Bros.’
Think what TV brothers who recycle trash could do with the outmoded structure of federal agencies.
- Earth
Biological Cadre Turns Political
Conservation scientists lobby the presidential-transition team to select an Interior Secretary who respects and defends science.
- Health & Medicine
Lack of sleep has genetic link with type 2 diabetes
Large genomic studies show body rhythms, melatonin may influence sugar levels in the blood.
- Health & Medicine
Honeybee CSI: Why dead bodies can’t be found
Virus could explain one symptom of colony collapse.
- Math
The influence of influence in Prisoner’s Dilemma
Cooperation wins out over betrayal when successful prisoners recruit followers.
- Health & Medicine
Imagination Medicine
Brain imaging reveals the substance of placebos. Expectation alone triggers the same neural circuits and chemicals as real drugs.
- Psychology
Recovering memories that never left
New research suggests that some people who recover memories of childhood sexual abuse are prone to false recall, while others are likely to have forgotten earlier recollections of actual abuse.
- Humans
Help NAS and Yourself
A science-backgrounder series for the public is coming, and you can help choose the topics.
- Humans
Science Reporting Fallout
Newspaper cutbacks are being linked to diminished science reporting.
