Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Humans
Reports of junk DNA’s ‘demise’ were based on junky logic and dubious definitions
Science is an oddly successful enterprise. On the whole, it provides an impressive guide to reality. From antibiotics and atomic bombs to laser beams and X-rays, science enables humans to forge powerful tools from nature’s secrets. Yet many aspects of science are deeply flawed, from the politicization of research funding to widespread misuse of math […]
- Life
Molecule in meat may increase heart disease risk
Gut bacteria transform compound into artery hardener.
- Health & Medicine
Dream contents deciphered by computer
Similar brain patterns emerge when seeing an object and conjuring it during sleep.
- Psychology
Light found in cocaine addiction tunnel
Using lasers, scientists target a sluggish set of neurons in rats to ease drug compulsion.
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- Health & Medicine
Alzheimer’s plaque components fight inflammation
In mice, bits of proteins can treat condition resembling multiple sclerosis.
- Humans
Obama unveils brain science program
Initiative would develop tools to measure coordinated neuron activity.
- Life
Eye drops reduce signs of macular degeneration in mice
Targeting cholesterol in retina stops rogue blood vessel growth often seen in the vision disease.
- Psychology
Babies’ flexible squeals may enable them to talk later
Language evolution might have fed off infants’ ability to use certain sounds to express various emotions.
- Health & Medicine
Bird flu infects three in China
The H7N9 influenza virus has sickened three people, killing two, in first known human infections.
- Health & Medicine
Hepatitis C drug goes after patients’ RNA
An experimental medicine that targets a type of RNA in the liver leads to reduced virus levels in patients.
