Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Add penis bacteria to the list of HIV risk factors
Certain bacteria found on the penis raise the risk of HIV infection, a new study finds.
- Health & Medicine
Baby-led weaning won’t necessarily ward off extra weight
Babies allowed to feed themselves gained similar amounts of weight as babies spoon-fed by caretakers.
- Health & Medicine
Cows produce powerful HIV antibodies
For the first time in any animal, researchers elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. Cows’ antibodies could help with drug development.
- Archaeology
Humans first settled in Australia as early as 65,000 years ago
Australia may have said “G’day” to humankind thousands of years earlier than previously believed.
- Health & Medicine
Common drugs help reverse signs of fetal alcohol syndrome in rats
A thyroid hormone and a blood sugar drug affect levels of a hormone needed for brain development, study in rats shows.
- Genetics
Dog domestication happened just once, ancient DNA study suggests
DNA of ancient canines counters idea that dogs were domesticated twice, in Europe and Asia.
- Archaeology
Copper in Ötzi the Iceman’s ax came from surprisingly far away
Copper for the ancient Iceman’s blade traveled about 500 kilometers to his northern Italian home region.
- Life
These bacteria may egg on colon cancer
Streptococcus gallolyticus may goad colon cancer growth.
- Health & Medicine
The fight against gonorrhea gets a potential new weapon: a vaccine
A vaccine used in New Zealand to curb meningitis also appeared to drop gonorrhea infections, results that hint at a way to make a gonorrhea vaccine.
- Health & Medicine
Drinking sugary beverages in pregnancy linked to kids’ later weight gain
Consuming sugary drinks while pregnant may mean kids are heavier when they reach elementary school age.
- Anthropology
Fossil tooth pushes back record of mysterious Neandertal relative
A Denisovan child’s fossil tooth dates to at least 100,000 years ago, researchers say.
- Archaeology
Pin-drop test pops Greek amphitheater’s acoustic claims
Analysis of an ancient Greek amphitheater’s ability to carry sounds reveals overblown tour guide claims.
