Humans

  1. A photo of an RSV vaccine bottle with a syringe, stethoscope and other vaccine bottle on a white background.
    Health & Medicine

    The FDA has approved the first-ever vaccine for RSV

    GSK’s shot, for those 60 and over, can protect against severe respiratory syncytial virus. Other vaccines, including to protect newborns, are in the works.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  2. An overhead image of a small deer tooth pendant with a hole drilled into it
    Archaeology

    Ancient human DNA was extracted from a 20,000-year-old deer tooth pendant

    Insights into Stone Age people’s lives may soon come from a new, nondestructive DNA extraction method.

    By Bruce Bower
  3. A CT scan image showing a human brain in yellow with a big patch of green in the middle of the brain.
    Health & Medicine

    Ultrasound allows a chemotherapy drug to enter the human brain

    An early-stage clinical trial demonstrates a technique for getting a powerful chemotherapy drug past the usually impenetrable blood-brain barrier.

    By McKenzie Prillaman
  4. An overhead photo of a mouse with gray hair on a light blue background.
    Health & Medicine

    Mouse hair turns gray when certain stem cells get stuck

    Stem cells involved in giving hair its color must keep moving and changing maturity levels to prevent graying, a mouse study suggests.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  5. A wall of posters on a bulletin board in a classroom, one of which reads 'NALOXONE CAN SAVE YOU'
    Health & Medicine

    Fentanyl deaths have spiked among U.S. children and teens

    Wider access to naloxone, which reverses the deadly effect of fentanyl, is key as more children are exposed to the opioid, experts say.

    By Aimee Cunningham
  6. A photo of a South American tapir walking through a green grass field with some bushes in the background.
    Genetics

    Here are 5 cool findings from a massive project on 240 mammal genomes

    A new series of studies on mammal genetics is helping scientists start to answer questions about evolution, cancer and even what makes us human.

    By Meghan Rosen
  7. A close up photo of a toddler laying in a bed with a tube attached to his nose.
    Health & Medicine

    Here’s what we know about upcoming vaccines and antibodies against RSV

    New vaccines and monoclonal antibodies may be available this year to fend off severe disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  8. An overhead photo of a small dog sitting on the lap of a person in a yellow long sleeve shirt working on a laptop.
    Health & Medicine

    Pets and people bonded during the pandemic. But owners were still stressed and lonely

    People grew closer to their pets during the first two years of COVID. But pet ownership didn’t reduce stress or loneliness, survey data show.

    By McKenzie Prillaman
  9. A black-and-white headshot of Rosalind Franklin
    Genetics

    What was Rosalind Franklin’s true role in the discovery of DNA’s double helix?

    Two researchers say that Rosalind Franklin knowingly collaborated with James Watson and Francis Crick to discover the molecular structure of DNA.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  10. A photo of a man and a woman sharing a pair of headphones while listening to music on a handheld device.
    Psychology

    Native language might shape musical ability

    People who speak tonal languages, where pitch alters meaning, are better at perceiving melody but worse at rhythm than speakers of nontonal languages.

    By McKenzie Prillaman
  11. A photo of a hand holding a light colored rectangle with darker lines running across it.
    Health & Medicine

    A graphene “tattoo” could help hearts keep their beat

    A proof-of-concept electronic heart tattoo relies on graphene to act as an ultrathin, flexible pacemaker. In rats, it treated an irregular heartbeat.

    By Meghan Rosen
  12. A photo of a punctured animal bone fragment on a black background.
    Archaeology

    A prehistoric method for tailoring clothes may be written in bone

    A punctured bone fragment was probably a leatherwork punch board. Perforated leather sewn together may have been seams in clothing.

    By McKenzie Prillaman