Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- 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.
- Archaeology
Earliest known stone tools unearthed in Kenya
East African discoveries suggest stone-tool making started at least 3.3 million years ago.
- Health & Medicine
Playtime at the pool may boost youngsters’ bodies and brains
Learning to swim early in life may boost kids’ learning in language and math.
- Health & Medicine
Snagging blood clots upgrades stroke care
A new device threaded up to the brain via catheter can unblock vessels in cerebral arteries, studies show.
- Health & Medicine
Broken bones heal with young blood, how remains a mystery
Blood from young mice rejuvenates bones of elderly mice, but how it works remains a mystery.
- Animals
Pandas’ gut bacteria resemble carnivores’
Unlike other vegetarians, the bamboo eaters lack plant-digesting microbes.
- Environment
E-cigarette flavorings may harm lungs
Certain e-cigarette flavors, such as banana pudding, may damage lung tissue
