Humans

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Health & Medicine

    The number of steps per day, not speed, is linked to mortality rate

    Researchers report an association between the total number of steps a person takes each day and the rate of death from any cause.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    A tooth-enamel protein is found in eyes with a common form of macular degeneration

    Researchers linked a tooth-enamel protein with calcium deposits in eyes suffering ‘dry’ AMD, which could lead to treatments for the vision disorder.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Why some heart patients may be especially vulnerable to COVID-19

    Researchers don’t yet know if the way the coronavirus enters cells may have something to do with the risks to the heart.

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  4. Archaeology

    The Nazareth Inscription’s origins may refute ties to Jesus’ resurrection

    Chemical analysis shows the tablet’s marble came from a Greek island, challenging the idea the decree concerned early Christianity in the Middle East.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    Young adults can face severe cases of COVID-19, too

    While risk of having a severe case of COVID-19 rises with age, younger adults are also landing in the hospital and ICU, new U.S. statistics show.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    HIV drugs didn’t work as a coronavirus treatment in a clinical trial

    Antiviral HIV drugs “showed no benefit” when given to patients severely ill with COVID-19.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    How parents and kids can stay safe and sane during the coronavirus pandemic

    Infectious disease experts weigh in on playdates, playgrounds and other parenting questions.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    50 years ago, scientists were trying to get a grip on Lassa fever

    In 1970, scientists were on the trail of a deadly new virus. Fifty years later, a vaccine is just now being tested in people.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    People who didn’t know they had COVID-19 drove its spread in China

    A new study suggests that mild cases, in which people have no symptoms or don’t get sick enough to go to a doctor, are fueling the coronavirus pandemic.

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  10. Archaeology

    This is one of the largest Ice Age structures made of mammoth bones

    A massive ring of mammoth bones, built by hunter-gatherers during the Ice Age, offers a peek at life 25,000 years ago.

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  11. Health & Medicine

    Coronavirus is most contagious before and during the first week of symptoms

    As major efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic go into effect around the globe, researchers are figuring out just when patients are most contagious.

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  12. Health & Medicine

    A trick from cancer cells helps rats accept transplanted limbs

    Rats that received microparticles that release a chemical signal to recruit immune cells tolerated hind limb transplants for more than 200 days.

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