Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Archaeology
Early shrine unearthed at Nepal Buddhist site
Ritual structure could help pin down when the sage known as the Buddha lived in South Asia.
- Psychology
People prefer to just get pain over with
A new study shows that people would rather experience pain ASAP, even if it means experiencing more pain.
- Health & Medicine
Whooping cough vaccine may still allow some level of infection
Animal tests show pertussis shots stave off symptoms but allow spread of the bacteria.
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- Health & Medicine
Drug use on the rise in older set
The use of illicit drugs has declined slightly over the last decade among teens but is growing more common in people over age 50.
- Psychology
Almost-lifelike hands perceived as creepy
Devices have to be very realistic to the escape uncanny valley of eeriness.
- Health & Medicine
Experiments in pasta
In discovery mode, babies gather every bit of information they can about the world around them.
- Anthropology
Little Red Riding Hood gets an evolutionary makeover
A statistical analysis attempts to track the rise of several widespread folktales.
- Humans
Babies may have basic body perception at birth
Newborns may enter the world with the basic systems to distinguish their bodies from those of other people.
- Health & Medicine
Eating nuts may extend a person’s life
People who regularly ate peanuts or tree nuts were less likely to die during decades-long studies.
- Genetics
Ancient Siberian bones clarify Native American origins
Some New World ancestors came from western Eurasia, not East Asia.
- Life
Blood clotting disorder blocked in dogs
Gene therapy stopped severe bleeding in dogs with the blood clotting disorder hemophilia.
