Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Anthropology
Ancient Greek shipwreck found to be world’s largest
Special diving suits enable discovery that much of a nearly 2,100-year-old Greek vessel and its cargo survive.
- Health & Medicine
Pneumococcal vaccine thwarts resistant infections in children
Since a new vaccine was introduced in 2010, the number of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal infections in kids has plunged.
- Health & Medicine
Drug appears safe in children with C. difficile infections
Early test suggests adult med may work in kids with diarrheal disease.
- Health & Medicine
Dallas health worker is first to catch Ebola in U.S.
A health worker in Dallas has Ebola. She is the first to catch the virus in the U.S.
- Health & Medicine
Drug-resistant staph common in football players
Athletes in contact sports should wash their hands (and dirty gym clothes) often, researchers say.
- Health & Medicine
Impotence drug boosts insulin in some with diabetes
A drug called yohimbine lets some people with diabetes secrete more insulin by stopping pancreas cells from binding adrenaline molecules.
- Health & Medicine
A timeline of a baby’s first hour
A study carefully documents newborns’ instinctual behaviors in the first hour outside the womb, observations that paint a picture of what babies might need in the moments after birth.
- Microbes
Gut bacteria protein linked to anorexia and bulimia
Gut bacteria may play a role in eating disorders, a new study suggests.
- Health & Medicine
First Ebola patient diagnosed in U.S. dies
Thomas Eric Duncan, who contracted the virus in Liberia and fell ill four days after traveling to Dallas, died October 8.
- Archaeology
Indonesian stencils rival age of Europe’s early cave art
Hand prints outlined in pigment were made in Southeast Asia at least 39,900 years ago, making the paintings about the same age as European cave art.
- Anthropology
Mysterious foreigner may have ruled ancient Maya kingdom
Bone chemistry suggests one of the early rulers of the Maya kingdom Copan and his retainers had foreign credentials.
- Health & Medicine
Interactive map tracks obesity in the United States
An interactive online map illustrates the rise in U.S. obesity since 1990.
