Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
A classical lullaby helped reduce newborns’ pain during heel pricks
Methods to lessen pain for newborns during routine procedures include cuddling and a dose of a sugar solution. Music also appears promising.
- Anthropology
Extreme cold may have nearly wiped out human ancestors 900,000 years ago
Ancestral populations had rebounded by about 800,000 years ago, heralding the evolution of people today, a contested DNA analysis suggests.
- Archaeology
Ancient Egyptian jars hint at complex mummification balms
Residue from ancient jars holding the internal organs of the mummy Senetnay hints at early Egyptian trade routes and complex mummification practices.
- Health & Medicine
The weight-loss drug Wegovy may also help treat addiction
Recent studies in mice and rats suggest that semaglutide drugs, like Wegovy, can curb some addictions. Several human trials are underway.
- Neuroscience
Three ways of rejuvenating aging brains may work via the same protein
Three brain rejuvenation methods may exert their effects through the same molecule, at least partly, which could lead to therapies for cognitive decline.
- Health & Medicine
Mexican virologist Susana López Charretón uncovered rotaviruses’ secrets
Knowledge of the complex dance between virus and host cell has led to the development of life-saving vaccines.
- Health & Medicine
What we still don’t know about Wegovy’s effect on strokes and heart attacks
A clinical trial suggests that semaglutide, a drug used to treat obesity and diabetes, may protect cardiovascular health in a broad group of people.
- Health & Medicine
What to know about the new RSV vaccine for pregnant people
Data on the FDA-approved Pfizer vaccine are promising. Questions about safety and how it might be used in conjunction with another new RSV shot remain.
- Psychology
An apology to Indigenous communities sparks a mental health rethink
The leading U.S. psychological association pledged to embrace Indigenous approaches to healing, which requires rethinking how to address mental health.
- Genetics
The Y chromosome’s genetic puzzle is finally complete
New analyses of the human Y chromosome reveal millions of new bases and different locations for the same gene in different people.
- Archaeology
Pre-Inca people stomped salutes to their thunder god on a special dance floor
Excavation of a drumlike platform in the Andes turned up a structure seemingly designed to absorb shocks and emit resonant sounds when stomped upon.
- Health & Medicine
Health risks can persist at least 2 years after COVID-19, new data suggest
U.S. veterans who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 remain at higher risk for many long COVID conditions, from heart disease to gastrointestinal issues.
