Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Archaeology
Stone circles show Neandertals’ social, technical skills
Ancient human relatives built circular stalagmite structures inside a French cave.
- Life
Women in sports are often underrepresented in science
More and more women are taking up recreational and competitive sports. But when it comes to exercise science, the studies don’t reflect that trend.
- Health & Medicine
Researchers face off over whether newborns are really copycats
Scientists disagree about whether babies can imitate movements and facial expressions shortly after birth.
- Archaeology
Evidence of 5,000-year-old beer recipe found in China
Ancient brewer’s toolkits put barley on tap in China as early as 3400 B.C.
- Life
Scientists find way to break through bad bacteria’s defenses
Enzymes can break down bacterial biofilm’s sugary walls.
- Health & Medicine
CDC tracking 279 U.S. pregnant women with possible Zika infections
The number of U.S. pregnant women with evidence of Zika infection has climbed to nearly 300, and includes both women with and without symptoms.
- Genetics
Risk identified in procedure for ‘three-parent babies’
Resurgent mitochondria could spell trouble for disease therapy.
- Neuroscience
Wiping out gut bacteria impairs brain
Antibiotics that wiped out gut bacteria curbed brain cell production in mice, a new study finds.
- Genetics
Some Stone Age humans ventured back to Africa
DNA from an ancient woman suggests some humans trekked back to Africa.
- Genetics
Some Stone Age humans returned to Africa
DNA from an ancient woman suggests some humans trekked back to Africa.
- Health & Medicine
Math offers new view of brain and its disorders
Editor in chief Eva Emerson discusses new insights into the brain's role in mental illness, sleep, and ancient rituals.
- Health & Medicine
Zika, psychobiotics and more in reader feedback
Readers respond to the April 2, 2016, issue of Science News with thoughts on Zika virus, planetary science, microbes in mental health and more.
