Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Schizophrenia risk gets more complex
Three studies find that large collections of variants, rather than just a few key mutations, probably predispose someone to schizophrenia.
- Psychology
2-year-olds possess grammatical insights
Toddlers discern basic rules for using nouns and verbs at least one year before speaking in complete sentences, French brain researchers report.
- Health & Medicine
Plastics ingredients may shrink babies
A new study links phthalates, one of the more ubiquitous families of pollutants, with a baby being dangerously small at birth.
- Earth
How killer whales are like people
Killer whales may be sentinels for toxic chemicals accumulating in even landlubbers.
- Life
H1N1 racks up frequent flier miles
Analyzing global flight paths may help researchers track pandemics, as a new study on H1N1 shows.
- Life
Protein protects sperm in mice
A protein called GPX5 helps protect sperm from oxidative damage. The finding could help prevent birth defects.
- Health & Medicine
Rheumatoid arthritis drug clears hurdle
Anti-inflammatory injections of golimumab work in people with rheumatoid arthritis who failed to improve on other meds.
- Health & Medicine
Cousteau finds “hypocrisy” in scientific whaling
Another challenge surfaces to Japan's "scientific" whaling.
- Health & Medicine
Vitamins add vitality to aging chromosomes
The chromosomes of many multivitamin supplements users appear younger -- about 10 years younger, a new study finds.
- Health & Medicine
Migraines may carry long-term baggage
Headaches with aura may be linked to the formation of microscopic brain lesions in women and possibly to a heightened risk of stroke.
- Archaeology
Stone Age flutes found in Germany
Excavations in Germany have unearthed what may be the oldest known musical instruments.
- Health & Medicine
Of ‘science’ and fetal whaling
Japan had been sacrificing a large number of pregnant whales in the name of science.
