Humans
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Psychology
‘Survival of the Nicest’ demonstrates altruism all around
Selfishness is not the rule in human society, new book argues.
By Nathan Seppa -
- Health & Medicine
A bilingual brain is prepped for more than a second language
Bilingual and multilingual people make efficient decisions on word choices, neural exercise that may protect the aging brain.
- Health & Medicine
Priming the elderly for flu shots
A drug that shuts down a potent signaling molecule in cells might boost protection elicited with flu vaccination, a study finds.
By Nathan Seppa - Humans
Precursors of human sperm and eggs made from stem cells
Reprogrammed adult human cells can produce germ cells, precursors of sperm and eggs.
- Health & Medicine
Online favorites of 2014
Science News' website traffic reveals the most-read news stories and blog posts of 2014.
- Life
Hydrogen sulfide offers clue to how reducing calories lengthens lives
Cutting calories boosts hydrogen sulfide production, which leads to more resilient cells and longer lives, a new study suggests.
- Animals
The scent of a worry
The smell of fear makes other rats stressed. Now, scientists have isolated the Eau de Terror that lets rats communicate their concerns.
- Health & Medicine
Some heart patients do better when the doctor’s away
When cardiologists are away at national conferences, patients with acute heart conditions are more likely to survive, a study shows.
- Life
Bird flu follows avian flyways
A deadly bird flu virus spreads along wildfowl migration routes in Asia.
- Microbes
The year in microbiomes
This year, scientists pegged microbes as important players in several aspects of human health, including obesity and cancer.
By Meghan Rosen - Archaeology
Ancient Egyptian blue glass beads reached Scandinavia
Chemical analysis of Danish discoveries extends northern reach of Bronze Age trade.
By Bruce Bower