Humans
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Microbicide thwarts AIDS virus in monkey test
A microbicidal gel applied vaginally prevents some transmission of the AIDS virus in monkeys.
By Nathan Seppa - Anthropology
The Stone Masters
Investigations of modern-day expert and novice craftsmen of stone tools and decorative stone beads offer insights into the making of stone implements thousands and perhaps even millions of years ago.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
A Make-Time-For-Sex Diet?
We’re slaves to our hormones. Teenagers and pregnant women are experts on that topic. Both ride an emotional roller coaster as their bodies produce vacillating amounts of sex hormones. In fact, behind the scenes of all human biology–from conception to death–a delicate interplay of hormones drives everything from the expression of our gender to regulation […]
By Janet Raloff - Humans
From the April 8, 1933, issue
MT. WASHINGTON COLDER THAN THE ANTARCTIC Rigor of winter at the summit of Mt. Washington is graphically pictured on the cover of this week’s Science News Letter. As early as October 15 of last year, when this picture was taken by Harold Orne of Melrose Highlands, Mass., ice and snow has wrought curious shapes upon […]
By Science News - Health & Medicine
Progress Against Dementia: Drug slows Alzheimer’s in severely ill patients
The drug memantine slows the progression of late-stage Alzheimer's disease in patients previously considered untreatable.
By Nathan Seppa - Humans
From the December 20, 1930, issue
alt=”Click to view larger image”> ARACHNE PROVIDES LOVELIER FESTOONS FOR CHRISTMAS TREE Christmas trees, with their exotic and ephemeral flowing of tinsel and bright paper, are apt to arouse in moralizing adults sentiments of vague regret that all this splendor is for a few hours only. Children, fortunately, are spared such thoughts: For them the […]
By Science News - Humans
From the December 13, 1930, issue
alt=”Click to view larger image”> SUSA, OLDEST CITY ON EARTH, TELLS ABOUT EARLY CULTURE Ur of the Chaldees, lately hailed as the oldest city on Earth, must yield place to a city that is older still. The home town of Abraham, which stood on the Mesopotamian plain before the Flood, received its first settlers and […]
By Science News - Humans
From the December 6, 1930, issue
alt=”Click to view larger image”> ENGINEERS CAMOUFLAGE ARLINGTON BRIDGE DRAW Engineers put a span in the Arlington Memorial Bridge and then hid it. So cleverly designed and camouflaged is the million-dollar, double-bascule draw of the Arlington bridge, which is nearing completion here, that it is difficult for one to tell the span made of steel […]
By Science News - Humans
From the November 29, 1930, issue
alt=”Click to view larger image”> CHILD HEALTH WEAPONS FORGED AT WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE Weapons with which to fight for the health and happiness of American children were forged at the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, held in Washington last week. They are weapons that can and will be used by mothers and […]
By Science News - Humans
From the November 22, 1930, issue
alt=”Click to view larger image”> AMERICAN SHORE WATERS YIELD FANTASTIC FISH Citizens of the American midlands will soon have an opportunity to become acquainted with one of the world’s most fantastic fishes, when a group of long-horned sculpins, captured by staff members of the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass., is placed on exhibition […]
By Science News - Humans
From the November 8, 1930, issue
alt=”Click to view larger image”> TORCH OF STEEL CUTTER HASTENS SKYSCRAPERS A touch of beauty found in the erection of the steel frame for the world’s tallest structure is presented on the front cover as a photographic study of a steel-cutting torch at work. The picture was taken by Lewis W. Hine of Hastings-on-Hudson. With […]
By Science News - Humans
From the November 1, 1930, issue
alt=”Click to view larger image”> ADMIRAL TAYLOR CHOSEN FOR HIGHEST AWARD OF ENGINEERS The John Fitz Medal Board of Award has chosen Rear Admiral Watson Taylor, U.S.N., retired, for the highest award for professional distinction the engineering profession of America will confer during 1931. In summing up Admiral Taylor’s accomplishments, the Board cites outstanding achievement […]
By Science News