Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
HIV after DARC
A gene variant prevalent in people of African descent increases the risk of HIV infection but also helps slow disease progression.
- Health & Medicine
Asthma oddity
Helicobacter pylori, a common microbe that colonizes the stomach, might protect against asthma.
- Chemistry
The Goop in Our Air
Emerging data indicate that tiny and toxic particles polluting urban air chemically morph from hour by hour, depending on what other pollutants these particles encounter during journeys that can run hundreds of miles.
- Health & Medicine
The two faces of prion proteins
Scientists are learning more about the protein behind mad cow and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, including how to interfere with the protein’s production in the brains of mice.
- Climate
Another climate ailment
Global warming may turn out to be more than just a pain in the neck: Rising average temperatures could trigger an increased prevalence of kidney stones.
- Chemistry
CO2: Only One Flavor
Federal climate policymakers should have a grounding in basic chemistry.
- Health & Medicine
One Downside to Sushi
Uncooked fish can host detectable concentrations of potentially toxic chemicals — pollutants that cooking can make disappear,
- Humans
Toxic yes: Toxins? No
Yet another news story baits us with the promise of reading about noxious toxins – and doesn't deliver.
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- Health & Medicine
Repairing muscle from the cell up
Skeletal muscle stem cells can fix weakling muscles in mice and could eventually lead to treatments for muscular dystrophy.
- Health & Medicine
Location matters
Scientists find the role of dopamine varies from one end of a brain region to another.
- Health & Medicine
Risk profile for diabetes
People who harbor excess amounts of the compound fetuin-A face a heightened risk of developing diabetes.
