Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Test might ascertain who needs appendectomy
Appendicitis might be diagnosable with a new urine test, an advance that could prevent many unnecessary surgeries.
- Humans
Doctors don’t always relay important test results
When it comes to medical tests, don't assume that 'no news is good news,' a new study finds.
- Archaeology
Ancient granaries preceded the Agricultural Revolution
Granaries excavated in Jordan indicate that people stored large quantities of wild cereals by about 11,300 years ago, a practice that led to the cultivation of domesticated plants, a new study suggests.
- Health & Medicine
Downside of red-hot chili peppers
In the wild, a culinary kick comes with risks to the plant.
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- Humans
Seeking genetic fate
Personal genomics companies offer forecasts of disease risk, but the science behind the packaging is still evolving.
- Health & Medicine
A role for Merkels
Mysterious skin cells known as Merkel cells are required to sense light touches.
- Health & Medicine
Gene silencing in colorectal cancer may prove useful
Genetic irregularity in colorectal cancer cells might serve as a biomarker of risk for this malignancy.
- Computing
Asia: One reason America can’t afford to jettison good teachers
Asia appears to prize science and tech education far more than America does, and the result may be a waning of the West's economic and entrepreneurial dominance.
- Health & Medicine
Gene plus stress equals depression debate
A reanalysis of data challenges a prominent report that a particular gene variant interacts with stressful experiences to promote depression, sparking controversy.
- Health & Medicine
CT scan nearly as good as regular colonoscopy
Virtual colonoscopy might suffice for people at high risk of colorectal cancer, a new study finds.
- Humans
‘CRAP’ paper accepted for publication
Find out what happens when a joke, a hoax manuscript, is submitted to an open-access journal.
