Humans

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Health & Medicine

    A new antifungal drug works in a surprising way

    Mandimycin, which targets a different essential fungi cell resource than other antifungal drugs, should harm other cell types as collateral — but doesn’t.

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  2. Archaeology

    Neandertal-like tools found in China present a mystery

    A style of primitive stone tools named for the French site where they were first discovered have shown up half a world away.

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  3. Artificial Intelligence

    AI is helping scientists decode previously inscrutable proteins

    A new set of artificial intelligence models could make protein sequencing even more powerful for better understanding cell biology and diseases.

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  4. Microbes

    Elite athletes’ poop may hold clues to boosting metabolism

    In a small study, mice given fecal transplants from elite cyclists and soccer players had higher levels of glycogen, a key energy source.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    Surgeons transplanted a pig’s liver into a human

    A genetically modified mini pig’s liver was able to function in the body of a brain-dead patient throughout a 10-day experiment.

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  6. Genetics

    What 23andMe’s bankruptcy means for your genetic data

    As 23andMe prepares to be sold, Science News spoke with two experts about what’s at stake and whether consumers should delete their genetic data.

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  7. Animals

    You might be reading your dog’s moods wrong

    A dog's physical cues often take a back seat to environmental ones, skewing humans' perceptions, a small study suggests.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    Tuberculosis could be eradicated. So why isn’t it?

    John Green’s new book, Everything Is Tuberculosis, reveals how social injustice sustains the disease, despite available cures and vaccines.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    Avoidable deaths increased in the U.S. as they dropped elsewhere 

    In the United States, deaths that could have been avoided rose, on average, from 2009 to 2019. That’s in contrast to European Union countries.

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  10. Health & Medicine

    A deep brain stimulation volunteer discusses life after depression

    In this bonus episode of The Deep End, you’ll hear an update from Jon Nelson, who is living what he calls his "bonus life."

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  11. Neuroscience

    Human memory is flawed. But a new book says that’s OK

    The new book Memory Lane convincingly demonstrates how memories are like Lego buildings that are constantly being rebuilt.

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  12. Health & Medicine

    An mRNA cancer vaccine may offer long-term protection 

    A vaccine kept patients free of pancreatic cancer for years, yet new reports say the NIH is advising against mentioning mRNA tech in grants.

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