Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Chikungunya is on the move
The chikungunya virus, which wreaks havoc on joints, has spread via mosquitoes in tropical regions. Now it has found a way to hijack a second mosquito, posing a threat to people in Europe, North America and China.
- Humans
How Homo sapiens became world’s dominant species
'First Peoples' dispels old ideas about human evolution and tells an updated tale of how Homo sapiens came to dominate the world.
- Science & Society
Attempt to shame journalists with chocolate study is shameful
Journalist John Bohannon set out to expose poor media coverage of nutrition studies. In the process, he lied to his own profession and the public.
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- Health & Medicine
Mice grow a thinner skin during long stays in space
Mice that spent three months in space had thinner skin and extra hair growth compared with rodents that were grounded on Earth.
- Health & Medicine
One in 10 people with tattoos experience rashes, scarring or other problems
Tattoos carry risk of long-term rash; red ink may be most irritating color.
- Anthropology
Double blow to skull is earliest evidence of murder, a 430,000-year-old whodunit
A 430,000-year-old hominid skull shows signs of murder, making it the earliest suspected homicide.
- Humans
Fossils suggest another hominid species lived near Lucy
Fossil jaws dating to over 3 million years ago may add a new species to the ancient hominid mix.
- Genetics
Genes and environment balance each other
Genes and environment have equal influence on human traits.
- Health & Medicine
Ebola gatekeeper protein identified
Ebola’s ability to infect appears to depend on a key transport protein that guides the virus into cells.
- Neuroscience
No-pain gene discovered
Scientists have identified a new genetic culprit for the inability to perceive pain.
- Genetics
Mutations that drive cancer lurk in healthy skin
Healthy tissue carries mutations that drive cancer, samples of normal skin cells show.
