Humans
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Low-cal longevity questioned
Limited food intake in rhesus monkeys fails to extend the animals’ survival, in a departure from earlier reports.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Brain learns while you snooze
Mind can make associations between smells and sounds during sleep.
- Humans
Young scientists make the cut
With the naming of the 30 finalists, middle school students will vie for top prize in national Broadcom MASTERS competition.
By Meghan Rosen - Health & Medicine
Infrared light offers promise of laser-sharp cancer therapy
Laser technique targets tumors with reduced risk of side effects compared with conventional chemotherapy.
By Janet Raloff - Humans
Neil Armstrong, first man on moon, dies at 82
Apollo 11 commander held true to his engineering roots.
- Life
Kick in the gut may lead to IBD
Short-term infection could create conditions for long-term intestinal illness, a study suggests.
By Nathan Seppa - Humans
Language family may have Anatolian origins
Major language family started in Anatolia 8,000 years ago or more, a contentious analysis concludes.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Tattoo rashes linked to ink
Tainted supplies caused outbreak of stubborn bacterial skin infections.
By Nathan Seppa - Life
Antibiotics linked to fat buildup
Research in mice implicates changes in gut microbe mix; study in infants finds excess weight gain after use of the drugs.
- Humans
Gene may boost effects of peer pressure
DNA trait linked to tendency to be affected by high or low levels of alcohol and cigarette use in high school.
By Bruce Bower - Health & Medicine
Ovulation spurred by newfound semen ingredient
A common growth-boosting protein may act as a pregnancy-protecting hormone in humans.
By Meghan Rosen - Chemistry
Supersmall lab-on-a-chip is superfast
Two-chamber nanowire device that quickly finds diagnostic molecules in blood could be a lifesaver.