Humans
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
How many steps a day do you really need to take?
An analysis of 57 studies shows that people who walked a certain number of steps were less likely to die from any cause compared with those who walked less.
By Skyler Ware - Health & Medicine
Climate change may be pushing fungal allergy season earlier
Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns may be lengthening fungal allergy season, which starts 3 weeks earlier than it did two decades ago.
- Archaeology
AI reveals new details about a famous Latin inscription
An analysis of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti using AI reveals its legal tone and imperial messaging, offering new insights missed by historians.
By Tom Metcalfe - Humans
Forget discrete droplets. This is how sweat really forms
The most-detailed look yet at how we perspire reveals that beads of sweat are out, puddling is in.
- Science & Society
Screen addiction affects teens’ mental health. How to spot it, and help
Banning screens is often not an option. So Science News spoke with experts studying screen use and addiction in teens to help families navigate this complex issue.
By Sujata Gupta - Health & Medicine
U.S. measles outbreaks may end a hard-won victory over the virus
Dropping vaccination rates and changes in U.S. vaccine policy have public health experts concerned that annual measles outbreaks could become more frequent.
- Health & Medicine
Here’s how air pollution may trigger lung cancer
Exposure to air pollution may trigger DNA mutations that cause lung cancer in nonsmokers.
By Meghan Rosen - Health & Medicine
U.S. FDA may nix black box warning on some menopause estrogen treatments
Experts worry the warning on vaginal estrogen menopause treatments is doing more harm than good and is not supported by science.
- Humans
A child’s biological sex may not always be a random 50-50 chance
Some people’s biology may set them up to birth babies of a certain sex, explaining why a family with multiple children may have all girls or all boys.
By Jake Buehler - Health & Medicine
‘Rehab’ exposes the dark underside of U.S. drug treatment centers
In Rehab, journalist Shoshana Walter investigates the systemic pitfalls of drug treatment programs, which prevent people’s recovery from addiction.
By Meghan Rosen - Humans
No, shaken baby syndrome has not been discredited
Defense lawyers have called shaken baby syndrome, or abusive head trauma, junk science. But doctors say shaking a baby is dangerous.
By Tara Haelle - Health & Medicine
Protein signatures may one day tell brain diseases apart before symptoms
Blood tests could pave the way for distinguishing between Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and some dementias, aiding early treatment for brain diseases.