Humans

  1. Health & Medicine

    Caffeinated Liver Defense

    Caffeinated beverages appear to protect beleaguered livers.

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  2. Humans

    Letters from the January 21, 2006, issue of Science News

    D. Durda, FIAAA/B612 Foundation Push, pull, zap, drench I’m surprised that NASA envisions an absurdly massive, nuclear-powered “gravitational tug” to avoid “the biggest problem” of a contact-tug’s need to “fir[e] its rocket engine only at specific times” to compensate for an asteroid’s rotation (“Protecting Earth: Gravitational tractor could lure asteroids off course,” SN: 11/12/05, p. […]

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  3. Archaeology

    Getting a read on early Maya writing

    Excavators of a pyramid in northeastern Guatemala announced the discovery of the earliest known Maya writing.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    In Pixels and in Health

    By simulating individual cells and their behavior inside the human body using a computer technique called agent-based modeling, scientists are gaining new insight into disease progression.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    Cancer and Soft Drinks? Oops, Never Mind

    When it comes to cancer, soft drinks are not the villains implied by recent news accounts.

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  6. Humans

    From the January 11, 1936 issue

    A new president for A.A.A.S., evidence of neutrinos, and plants that act like batteries.

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  7. Humans

    Benjamin Franklin at 300

    For the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth, a new Web portal offers a comprehensive, searchable resource of the statesman and scientist’s writings and quotations, along with a targeted search engine and tools for teachers. Go to: http://ben.clusty.com/

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  8. Health & Medicine

    Put Down That Fork: Studies document hazards of obesity

    Being overweight or obese in middle age increases a person's risk of heart or kidney problems later in life.

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  9. Humans

    Faked Finds: Human stem cell work is discredited

    South Korean scientist Woo Suk Hwang faked embryonic stem cell findings, say investigators from Seoul National University.

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  10. Health & Medicine

    Musical therapy for sounder sleeping

    Regularly playing a droning wind instrument native to Australia significantly reduced snoring and sleep problems, Swiss researchers found.

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  11. Humans

    Letters from the January 14, 2006, issue of Science News

    Alcohol calculus “A toast to thin blood” (SN: 11/12/05, p. 317) says, “the blood of people who consume 3 to 6 drinks weekly was less likely to clot in a test tube than was the blood from nondrinkers.” I wonder if there is a rebound effect that could make the blood of new abstainers even […]

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  12. Humans

    Fattening fears

    Parents' concerns over neighborhood safety may cause them to keep their children indoors and thereby increase the possibility that the youngsters will become overweight.

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