Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Mad cow disease might linger longer
A rare but deadly human illness spread by cannibalism has an incubation period in some individuals of about 4 decades.
- Humans
From the July 4, 1936, issue
Tiny stratosphere probes, neutron rays for medicine, and secrets of ancient bones.
- Humans
Letters from the July 8, 2006, issue of Science News
The grammar gene? While reading that starlings may be capable of discerning grammatical patterns (“Grammar’s for the Birds: Human-only language rule? Tell starlings,” SN: 4/29/06, p. 261), I recalled the FOXP2 gene. The gene seems to be involved in the development of areas of the brain involved in speech in humans. Variants of FOXP2 were […]
- Archaeology
Shells may represent oldest known beads
Researchers have identified three perforated shells dating to around 100,000 years ago as beads, making these finds the oldest known examples of personal decoration.
- Health & Medicine
Salmonella may join fight against cancer
Salmonella modified to remove its virulence works as a cancer vaccine, tests in mice show.
- Humans
From the June 27, 1936, issue
A revolution in image transmission, a thicker molecular film, and diabetes on the rise.
- Health & Medicine
Fruity Relief for Weekend Warriors
Certain fruit products, such as cherry juice, may reduce pain and speed recovery from muscle injury.
- Health & Medicine
Lavender Revolution: Plant essences linked to enlarged breasts in boys
Two natural ingredients in many hair- and skin-care products act like a female sex hormone and can cause abnormal breast development in boys.
- Health & Medicine
Measuring Stick: Spinal tap test tracks Alzheimer’s compound
A new test is the first to measure production and clearance of amyloid-beta in the cerebrospinal fluid of people, enabling scientists to track this Alzheimer's disease peptide.
- Humans
With permission to nap, doctors stay more alert
Allowing doctors-in-training who are on call to hand off to another doctor the pager that summons them to the next patient increases the amount of sleep they get and reduces their fatigue.
- Health & Medicine
Pregnancy risk from blood pressure drugs?
Babies exposed in the first trimester of their mother's pregnancy to blood pressure drugs called ACE inhibitors are at an increased risk of birth defects.
- Anthropology
Mexican find reveals ancient dental work
A 4,500-year-old human skeleton found in Mexico represents the earliest instance in the Americas of intentionally modified teeth, apparently to create space for a ceremonial mouthpiece.
