Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Wet fingers always wrinkle in the same way
Pruney fingertips aren't swollen sponges — the wrinkles actually come from blood vessels constricting and pulling skin inward.
- Health & Medicine
It’s tricky to transplant a bladder. How surgeons finally did it
The person who received the bladder is doing well, and the successful transplant could offer hope to thousands of people with bladder dysfunction.
- Health & Medicine
Don’t wait until menopause to strengthen your bones
Screening for osteoporosis is recommended at age 65, but experts say women should be proactive about bone health long before that.
- Health & Medicine
FDA significantly limits access to COVID-19 vaccines
The new framework unveiled May 20 says new COVID-19 shots should go only to those ages 65 and up or with underlying medical conditions.
- Health & Medicine
Biden’s prostate cancer is incurable, but it is treatable
Experts explain the science behind Biden's advanced prostate cancer diagnosis, including how common it is and what treatments are available.
- Animals
A ‘talking’ ape’s death signals the end of an era
Kanzi showed apes have the capacity for language, but in recent years scientists have questioned the ethics of ape experiments.
- Science & Society
Some science seems silly, but it’s still worthwhile
The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog contends that curiosity-driven research helps us understand the world and could lead to unexpected benefits.
- Health & Medicine
RSV wasn’t as hard on U.S. babies last winter. This may be why
Two preventive tools — a maternal vaccine and a monoclonal antibody — were tied to a recent drop in RSV hospitalization rates for U.S. babies.
- Health & Medicine
FDA plan to ban fluoride supplements baffles and alarms dental experts
Fluoride supplements have been used in the United States for decades and have proven to be safe and effective for decreasing cavities.
- Health & Medicine
An at-home cervical cancer screening device was OK‘d by the FDA
The Teal Wand, an at-home HPV testing device that could replace a Pap smear, could broaden access to cervical cancer screening.
- Health & Medicine
HHS says new vaccines should be tested against placebos. They already are
Placebo testing has been part of the process since the 1940s. It’s unclear what additional measures would achieve — but it may slow development.
- Animals
Wild chimpanzees give first aid to each other
A study in Uganda shows how often chimps use medicinal plants and other forms of health care — and what that says about the roots of human medicine.
