Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Flu shot during pregnancy is safe, but flu isn’t
Illness in the mother nearly doubles the risk of a miscarriage or stillbirth in second or third trimester, a new study shows.
- Psychology
Depression gene search disappoints
A comprehensive effort to find links between genetic variants and low mood comes up empty.
- Humans
Cold spells were dark times in Eastern Europe
Cooler periods coincided with conflicts and disease outbreaks, a tree-ring study spanning the last millennium finds.
- Health & Medicine
Fast food linked to asthma risk
A diet high in fast food seems to increase the risk of asthma in young children and adolescents, survey data from more than a half-million people finds.
- Health & Medicine
Newborns’ brains bear signs of adult illnesses
Disease genes associated with reduced volume in certain regions at birth.
- Health & Medicine
Little Mind Benders
Parasites that sneak into the brain may alter your behavior and health.
- Humans
Pruney digits help people get a grip
Finger and toe wrinkling may have evolved as an adaptation to wet conditions.
- Humans
Wrist bones said to distinguish hobbits
New fossils enter the debate over tiny humanlike species that lived in Indonesia.
- Health & Medicine
Updated Pap smear detects ovarian, uterine cancers
Adding a genetic analysis to the procedure reveals mutations specific to the two malignancies.
- Health & Medicine
Drug restores lost hearing
Loud noises can damage sensitive inner ear cells called hair cells, which in mammals don’t grow back.
- Health & Medicine
Long space missions may be hazardous to your sleep
Crew on simulated Mars trip moved less and slept more during 520-day project.
- Humans
Language learning may begin before birth
Newborns show signs of having tracked moms’ speech while still in the womb.
