Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Psychology
How string quartets stay together
New data tracking millisecond-scale corrections suggests that some ensembles are more autocratic — following one leader —while other musical groups are more democratic, making corrections equally.
- Psychology
Attractiveness studies are hot, or not
Studies that link attractiveness to other traits are often misinterpreted, including recent studies of nose bacteria and of cycling ability.
- Archaeology
Roman gladiator school digitally rebuilt
Imaging techniques unveil a 1,900-year-old Roman gladiators’ training center that’s buried beneath a site in Austria.
- Health & Medicine
Imbalance in gut bacteria may play role in Crohn’s disease
Identifying the onset of Crohn’s disease may best be done by looking at bacteria in the cellular linings intestinal tissue.
- Health & Medicine
Experimental drug might get the salt out
Tests in people and rats show sodium levels in blood drop as drug candidate limits the body’s salt absorption.
- Health & Medicine
Overheard, baby edition: Making sense of new words
Eavesdropping babies learn new words when they understand familiar ones.
- Health & Medicine
Second wave of bird flu ups pandemic worries
The H7N9 avian influenza virus, which first appeared in 2013, is sweeping China with a second, larger wave of illness.
- Health & Medicine
MS milder when patients begin with higher vitamin D levels
Multiple sclerosis patients with low concentrations of vitamin D early in their disease have more nerve damage several years later.
- Psychology
The addiction paradox
Addiction is often seen as a chronic disease that requires maintenance treatment even after years of sobriety. But even without help, most addicts eventually can quit for good.
- Health & Medicine
Casinos may reduce poverty, obesity in Native American communities
A modest reduction in overweight youth was observed after the addition of slot machines.
- Health & Medicine
Meaty diets may raise risk of dying young
Reducing protein consumption can lengthen life and improve health, studies in mice and people suggest.
- Health & Medicine
HPV vaccination proves its worth in Australia
A study in Australia finds the shots are already reducing cases of abnormal cervical lesions.
