Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Bug bites suggest new stroke drug
Changing a human enzyme so that it resembles one from blood-sucking insects may lead to a new treatment for strokes.
- Health & Medicine
Is ‘drink plenty of fluids’ good advice?
Definitive studies need to determine whether increasing fluid intake during respiratory infections is really a good idea, says a team of researchers.
- Humans
From the March 17, 1934, issue
An African snake handler, the speed of lightning, and the emptiness of nebulae.
- Health & Medicine
Suspected Carcinogen Speeds Through People’s Bodies
A commonly used but potentially carcinogenic flavoring compound stays in people's bodies only briefly.
- Humans
Letters from the March 20, 2004, issue of Science News
What’s the difference? I thought that the X and Y chromosomes determined gender in animals, but I see no mention of them in “When to Change Sex” (SN: 1/17/04, p. 40: When to Change Sex). Does this mean that on a genetic basis, males and females in these organisms are identical? Neil H. MurphyWalnut Creek, […]
- Humans
Top of the Top 40: Search tool for a cancer cure places first in national science competition
Herbert Mason Hedberg, the 2004 winner of the Intel Science Talent Search, and 39 other students have received recognition and scholarships for their innovations in science, mathematics, and engineering.
- Anthropology
Prehistoric Family Split: DNA puts Neandertals on edge of human ancestry
The largest sample of ancient mitochondrial DNA extracted from Stone Age fossils to date indicates that Neandertals made, at most, a small genetic contribution to our direct prehistoric ancestors.
- Health & Medicine
Gap in the Defense: Brain cancer patients short on valuable protein
Brain tumor cells have a dearth of an obscure protein called ING4, whose sister compounds have shown anticancer effects.
- Health & Medicine
Ear piercings cause illness, disfigurement
Piercing the upper-ear cartilage under nonsterile conditions can leave a person vulnerable to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, as happened in Oregon in 2000.
- Health & Medicine
Heart patients gain from steep cholesterol drop
Heart patients can lessen their risk of a heart attack and increase their odds of survival by aggressively reducing harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in their blood.
- Anthropology
Grannies give gift of longer lives
Data from two 18th- and 19th-century farming communities supports the theory that child care assistance from grandmothers has contributed to the evolution of extended human longevity.
- Health & Medicine
Drug for migraines helps some patients
An experimental drug that slows blood flow in the brain knocks out migraine headaches in some people.
