Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
Why salmonella doesn’t want you to poop out
Salmonella bacteria fight infection-driven losses in appetite to keep hosts just healthy enough for transmission.
- Anthropology
Snooze patterns vary across cultures, opening eyes to evolution of sleep
Sleep plays out differently across cultures, but a consistent cycle of z’s and activity appears crucial.
- Life
Mouse cells grown in rats cure diabetes in mice
Mixing cells of two species produces pig and cattle embryos with some human cells.
- Health & Medicine
50 years ago, methadone made a rosy debut
Heralded as the “answer to heroin addiction,” methadone is still used to treat opiate addiction, despite risks.
- Health & Medicine
A ban on screens in bedrooms may save kids’ sleep
Screens are associated with worse sleep in kids, and not just because of their lights and noises.
- Archaeology
Real-life adventure tale details search for legendary city
"The Lost City of the Monkey God" recounts archaeological expedition to uncover truth behind Honduras’ “White City" myth.
- Science & Society
Cancer studies get mixed grades on redo tests
Replications of cancer studies fail to reproduce some results.
- Climate
Monsoon deluges turned ancient Sahara green
The ancient Sahara Desert sprouted trees and lakes for thousands of years thanks to intense rainfall.
- Health & Medicine
Though complex, new peanut allergy guidelines are based on science
Unlike some past recommendations, new guidelines state that introducing babies to peanut-containing foods early is generally OK, with certain caveats.
- Health & Medicine
Promise and perils of marijuana deserve more scientific scrutiny
Report outlines medical potential and health dangers of cannabis and its components.
- Paleontology
Readers weigh in on dinos, dark matter and more
Ancient bird calls, the search for dark matter and more in reader feedback.
- Archaeology
Hunter-gatherers were possibly first to call Tibetan Plateau home
Hunter-gatherers may have been Asia’s first year-round, high-altitude settlers.
