Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Exercise helps you get in shape for old age
Exercise can fend off the effects of aging on the body and brain.
- Anthropology
Two groups spread early agriculture
The Fertile Crescent was a diverse place. Multiple cultures were involved in the dawn of farming.
- Health & Medicine
Zika epidemic peaking in Latin America
Zika virus is burning through the population of Latin America; the epidemic will probably be over within two years, and won’t strike again for at least 10 years or more, a new analysis suggests.
- Health & Medicine
Risk of travelers to Olympics sparking new Zika outbreaks low
Just four countries — Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea and Yemen — bear a substantial risk of bringing Zika virus home from the Olympics and having it spread, the CDC says.
- Health & Medicine
Still mysterious, aging may prove malleable
Our editor in chief discusses the science of aging.
- Life
A healthy old age may trump immortality
Despite disagreements about what aging is and isn't, scientists have reached a radical consensus: It can be delayed.
- Neuroscience
The brain’s blueprint for aging is set early in life
The brain's decline may mirror its beginning, offering clues to aging.
- Neuroscience
Post-stroke shifts in gut bacteria could cause additional brain injury
The gut’s microbial population influences how mice fare after a stroke, suggesting that poop pills might one day prove therapeutic following brain injury.
- Health & Medicine
Unprotected sex less risky if HIV-positive partner on antiretroviral therapy
The risk of HIV transmission during unprotected sex drops drastically if the HIV-positive partner is taking antiretroviral therapy.
- Anthropology
Earliest evidence of monkeys’ use of stone tools found
600- to 700-year-old nut-cracking stones from Brazil are earliest evidence that monkeys used tools.
- Health & Medicine
‘Cracking the Aging Code’ tackles aging from evolutionary perspective
In 'Cracking the Aging Code', theoretical biologist Josh Mitteldorf and writer Dorion Sagan take a different approach to the science of growing old.
- Animals
Documentary looks for meaning in Koko the gorilla’s life
'Koko — The Gorilla Who Talks' documents the nearly 45-year relationship between researcher Penny Patterson and Koko, the subject of an ape sign language project.
