Humans

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Ecosystems

    On Whales’ Appetites: What a Waste

    An advocacy group and renowned scientist floundered in an attempt to compel opinion shapers with the science showing that industrial fleets, not whales, pose a serious threat to fish stocks.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    Curative leaf

    Compound in marijuana reduces inflammation without the psychological effects.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Pain, numbness, pain

    Some anesthetics not only cause a burning feeling when they're given, but can also increase the pain felt after surgery.

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  4. Humans

    Schooling the vote

    Where you cast your ballot can affect how you cast your ballot.

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  5. Humans

    Whaling back to the future

    International commission meets after soul-searching on years of dispute.

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  6. Life

    When cells go quiet

    Connections between nerve cells may be lost when communication between the cells lapses.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    Breathe easy

    When it comes to heart function, the concentration of pollution in the air may matter less than its chemical makeup.

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  8. Astronomy

    Galaxy Zoo’s blue mystery (part 2)

    Featured blog: The enigmatic "Voorwerp" may be a dwarf galaxy lit by the ghostly echoes of a long-gone quasar.

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  9. Psychology

    Simpleminded Voters

    An innovative research technique has led researchers to conclude that well-informed voters often use simple rules of thumb to sift through mountains of campaign information and pick the candidate who best reflects their own political views.

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  10. Plants

    Forest invades tundra

    The Arctic tundra is under assault from trees, with serious implications for global climate change.

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  11. Chemistry

    Catching your breath

    Scientists are investigating how to use the human breath to diagnose diseases and environmental ills.

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  12. Humans

    Worth the cooties

    Boys who attend preschool classes with a majority of girls do better developmentally than other boys.

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