Humans

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Anthropology

    An ancient Chinese skull might change how we see our human roots

    Digital reconstruction of a partially crushed skull suggests new insight into Homo sapiens’ evolutionary relationship to Denisovans and Neandertals.

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  2. Psychology

    Striking moments make previous memories stronger

    Emotional events help solidify memories. The findings may one day help students study or trauma survivors recover.

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  3. Microbes

    Staph bacteria are bad at letting go

    Calcium, a mineral involved in wound healing, can strengthen the attachment between microbe and skin and make infections hard to shake.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    With little proof, Trump links Tylenol to autism and touts a treatment

    The FDA plans to add a warning to Tylenol’s label and OK use of a drug for autism. Researchers say there’s little data to support either move.

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  5. Neuroscience

    Lung cancer plugs into the mouse brain

    Exploring the relationship between cancer cells and nerve cells, which can signal tumors to grow, could unearth ways to slow disease.

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  6. Humans

    Staying on the keto diet long term could carry health risks

    Months on a high-fat keto diet put mice at risk for cardiovascular disease and impaired insulin secretion.

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  7. Animals

    Bats live with some viruses. But others can do them in

    Bats can carry some deadly human pathogens without signs of illness. A new survey shows that other viruses can still be bad for bats.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    A handheld ‘bone printer’ shows promise in animal tests

    Demonstrated in rabbits, the 3-D printer might someday print bone grafts directly onto fractures, complete with antibiotics to ease healing.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    Why are so many young people getting cancer?

    Diagnoses for several cancers before age 50 have been increasing rapidly since the 1990s. Scientists don’t know why, but they have a few suspects.

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  10. Health & Medicine

    Cancer patients froze reproductive tissue as kids. Now they’re coming back for it

    Saving reproductive tissue from kids treated for cancer before adolescence could give them a chance at having biological children later in life.

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  11. Health & Medicine

    Brains don’t all act their age

    A slew of new research attempts to zero in on what happens as our brains get older — and what can bring about those changes early.

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  12. Health & Medicine

    A new drug shows promise for hard-to-treat high blood pressure

    Results from a large trial suggest baxdrostat could provide a new option for people whose blood pressure remains high despite standard treatment.

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