Humans
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Humans
Arctic ozone: ‘Hole’ or just not whole?
This past spring, the Arctic stratosphere’s ozone layer suffered unprecedented depletion. But whether the record loss constituted a “hole” depends on which experts you consult.
By Janet Raloff - Life
Biomarker for Huntington’s disease identified
A gene called H2AFY may provide scientists with a way to measure the condition’s progression and whether a treatment is having a biological effect.
By Nick Bascom - Life
2011 medicine Nobel goes to immunology researchers
The prize in physiology or medicine recognizes scientists for their work on the body's innate and adaptive defenses against invading pathogens.
By Nathan Seppa - Psychology
Teen daters pal up to the bottle
Buddies of boyfriends and girlfriends push teens toward or away from booze.
By Bruce Bower - Physics
Sweet beams: Lasers to measure blood sugar
Cutting-edge use of light might someday prove useful in gauging diabetics’ glucose levels.
By Devin Powell - Health & Medicine
The mind’s eye revealed
A new technology uses brain scans to see what a person is watching.
- Humans
Humans
Love songs top charts, wandering minds prepare for the future and more in this week’s news.
By Science News - Health & Medicine
B12 shortage linked to cognitive problems
Subtle B12 deficiency plagues a surprising share of the elderly and may harm the brain, studies suggest.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Nose divides sweet from foul
The way scent-detection machinery is laid out suggests that people are born with some innate olfactory preferences.
By Nick Bascom -
- Life
XMRV tie to chronic fatigue debunked
A virus that was tied to the mysterious syndrome by 2009 research appears to have been a laboratory contaminant.
- Humans
Humans reached Asia in two waves
New genetic data show that some early migrants interbred with a mysterious Neandertal sister group.
By Bruce Bower