Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Calcium’s lingering effect slows growths
Calcium supplements' protective effect against colorectal cancer lasts years after a person stops taking the pills.
- Health & Medicine
Anti-inflammatories cut risk of mouth cancer
Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication can reduce a smoker's likelihood of developing mouth cancer.
- Health & Medicine
Marijuana ingredient slows artery hardening
Low doses of the chemical that causes marijuana's high can slow the progression of atherosclerosis.
- Humans
Change of fuel could extend lives in Africa
By switching from biofuels such as wood and charcoal to kerosene or other fossil fuels, people in many parts of Africa could significantly trim indoor air pollution, thereby delaying millions of premature deaths from pulmonary disease over the next 25 years.
- Health & Medicine
Surgical risk from painkiller may be brief
A new study suggests that patients might safely use painkillers such as ibuprofen up to 24 hours before surgery.
- Health & Medicine
Understanding Vitamin D Deficiency
Most adults don't get the recommended daily amount of vitamin D, and obesity may be a contributing factor.
- Humans
Letters from the April 30, 2005, issue of Science News
Supplemental information Vitamin E Loses Luster: Nutrient tests show disappointing results” (SN: 3/19/05, p. 182) is the fourth time I’ve seen a report that vitamin E may not be appropriate for elderly people at cardiac risk. Detailed statistics are always given, but one fact is always omitted: what type of vitamin E was used in […]
- Humans
From the April 27, 1935, issue
An artificial lightning bolt, predicting life spans, and a new, nonmagnetic ship.
- Health & Medicine
Neuron Savers: Gene therapy slows Alzheimer’s disease
Putting extra copies of the gene for a cellular growth factor into the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease appears to slow the degenerative condition.
- Health & Medicine
Zinc boosts kids’ learning
Zinc fortification improved mental skills in children with normal healthy diets, suggesting that the recommended intake for this mineral may need to be raised.
- Health & Medicine
When the stomach gets low on acid
A study in mice shows that a shortage of stomach acid can lead to cancer, apparently as a result of bacterial overgrowth and inflammation.
- Health & Medicine
Licorice ingredient ferrets out herpes
A compound in licorice homes in on lab-grown cells infected with a herpes virus and induces them to self-destruct.
