Humans
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
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Health & MedicineThe Colorful World of Synesthesia
Science News for Kids explores the sensory explosion that defines the experience of people with this unusual, but not that uncommon nor unwelcome, condition.
By Susan Gaidos -
HumansFrom the May 24, 1958 issue
Ancient Skull Puzzles — The 45,000-year-old Neanderthal skull recently assembled from fragments found in Shanidar Cave in Iraq presents a real scientific puzzle to anthropologists because, although his face was very primitive, the back of his head was more like modern man. The description of Shanidar Man as a being who appeared to be a […]
By Science News -
Health & MedicineVacillating stem cells
Unsuspected, ever-changing variation among stem cells in bone marrow helps determine the development path the cells will follow during differentiation.
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HumansButting out together
Cigarette smokers who know one another tend to kick the habit all at once, highlighting the importance of social forces in smoking-cessation treatment.
By Bruce Bower -
Health & MedicineTrust again
The ability to trust others even after violations of trust is regulated by the hormone oxytocin.
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Health & MedicineNonstick toxicity
By mimicking the action of estrogen, a widely used nonstick chemical promotes cancer development in animals.
By Janet Raloff -
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Health & MedicineDonor dilemma
Blood donors age 16 or 17 are more apt to faint than older donors.
By Nathan Seppa -
ChemistryHelp the Climate: Empty the Fridge
Yesterday, I reported that in hopes of slowing down global warming, some nations were interested in strengthening the Montreal Protocol – a United Nations treaty to curb releases of chemicals that endanger stratospheric ozone. But I didn’t really get into what they had up their sleeves. It turns out they want signatory nations to eliminate […]
By Janet Raloff -
TechI, computer
Bacteria that can "flip pancakes" with their DNA are the first microbes engineered to be living computers.
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Health & MedicineItchy and scratchy
People with a close relative who has had shingles face a heightened risk of getting the skin disease, and should probably be first in line to get the vaccine.
By Nathan Seppa -
ClimateWhen Is a Consensus on Climate Not a Consensus?
A protein chemist reported he had assembled a list of more than 30,000 scientists who challenge the idea that human releases of greenhouse gases are warming Earth's climate.
By Janet Raloff