Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Humans
New fossils hint at ancestral split
Jaw and face bones suggest two Homo species lived in East Africa nearly 2 million years ago.
- Health & Medicine
Thinner isn’t always better in diabetes
Normal-weight people who develop diabetes have higher mortality than people who are overweight or obese at the disease’s onset
- Humans
North African Diaspora written in genes
DNA analysis of people from 15 groups identifies distinct groups and migrations.
- Health & Medicine
Monkey brains sensitive to others’ flubs
Some of the brain’s nerve cells are programmed to light up only upon witnessing another’s error.
- Life
Rabies resistance arises in backwater thick with vampire bats
Residents of two remote Peruvian communities appear to have survived infection by the deadly virus.
- Animals
Epidemic of skin lesions reported in reef fish
A British-Australian research team has just found coral trout living on the south side of the Great Barrier Reef sporting dark skin raised, scablike, brown-black growths. Although the authors believe they’ve stumbled onto an epidemic of melanoma — a type of skin cancer — other experts have their doubts. Strong ones.
- Health & Medicine
Alzheimer’s protein could help in MS
A-beta, the same molecule that has been tied to dementia when it accumulates in the brain, appears to reduce damage when introduced to the bodies of mice with symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
- Humans
DNA hints at African cousin to humans
Complete genetic profiles of people from three hunter-gatherer groups suggest Homo sapiens interbred with a now-extinct species on the continent relatively recently.
- Anthropology
Sticks, stones and bones reveal emergence of a hunter-gatherer culture
A cave in southern Africa was occupied by people very much like those living in the region today.
- Health & Medicine
19th International AIDS Conference
Highlights from the AIDS meeting, July 22-27, Washington, D.C.
- Health & Medicine
19th International AIDS Conference
Highlights from the AIDS meeting, July 22-27, Washington, D.C.
- Humans
Top airports for spreading germs ID’d
Major hubs with far-flung flights are most efficient at launching pandemics.
