Humans

Neuroscience

Lonely brains crave people like hungry brains crave food

After hours of isolation, dopamine-producing cells in the brain fire up in response to pictures of humans, showing our social side runs deep.

Archaeology

The biblical warrior Goliath may not have been so giant after all

Archaeological finds suggest the width of the walls of Goliath’s home city were used to metaphorically represent the Old Testament figure’s height.

Health & Medicine

Here’s why COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer’s need to be kept so cold

Both Pfizer and Moderna built their vaccines on RNA. Freezing them keeps their fragile components from breaking down.

Health & Medicine

New Pfizer results show its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95% effective

With final results – including showing its vaccine is 94 percent effective in the elderly – Pfizer is poised to request emergency use authorization.

Anthropology

Ardi and her discoverers shake up hominid evolution in ‘Fossil Men’

A new book covers the big personalities, field exploits and scientific clashes behind the discovery of the hominid skeleton nicknamed Ardi.

Neuroscience

Psilocybin may help treat depression, a small study finds

Researchers found that a compound in psychedelic mushrooms eased depression symptoms, but larger studies are needed.

Health & Medicine

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95 percent effective

Another coronavirus vaccine appears to be very effective in preventing people from developing COVID-19 symptoms.

Health & Medicine

Measles has come back with a vengeance in the last several years

The steep number of measles cases in 2019 doesn’t bode well for 2020, considering disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anthropology

Bolivia’s Tsimane people’s average body temperature fell half a degree in 16 years

A new study echoes other research suggesting that people’s average body temperature is lower today than it used to be.

Health & Medicine

Protecting the brain from infection may start with a gut reaction

In mice, immune cells in the meninges are trained to battle infections in the gut before migrating to the brain.

Health & Medicine

Coronavirus cases are skyrocketing. Here’s what it will take to gain control

Basic public health measures can still curb COVID-19, if everyone does their part.

Health & Medicine

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective, preliminary trial data show

An analysis of 94 COVID-19 cases shows that the mRNA-based vaccine can protect people from getting sick, though the trial is ongoing.