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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Health & Medicine

    Big Increase Coming for NIH — Maybe

    The Obama administration hopes to do what lawmakers couldn't last year — give an extra $1 billion to NIH.

    By Janet Raloff
  2. Health & Medicine

    For preemies, less is more

    Multiple courses of steroid treatment for mom could harm premature babies.

    By Laura Sanders
  3. Health & Medicine

    EPA should test demasculinizing pollutants collectively, NRC says

    Cumulative effects of phthalates and related compounds likely larger than effects measured one chemical at a time, reports a National Research Council panel.

    By Janet Raloff
  4. Climate

    Holdren to Head White House Science

    It appears that another physicist with Nobel ties is set to become the primary Obama adviser on science.

    By Janet Raloff
  5. Humans

    Primates get a neural facial

    New brain-imaging studies indicate that similar brain areas coordinate face recognition in people, chimpanzees and macaque monkeys, suggesting that a face-sensitive brain system evolved early in primate evolution.

    By Bruce Bower
  6. Health & Medicine

    Bacteria help themselves in damaged lungs

    An antibiotic produced by a bacterium acts as a molecular snorkel to help with breathing. The bacterium infects and kills many people with cystic fibrosis, and plugging the snorkel could lead to treatments.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  7. Ecosystems

    Thwarting Tree Poachers

    A new federal rule makes it harder to destroy protected forests.

    By Janet Raloff
  8. Health & Medicine

    Enzyme inventory affects ovarian cancer outlook

    Levels of two enzymes crucial for shutting down genes might clarify the prognosis for ovarian cancer patients, a new study finds.

    By Nathan Seppa
  9. Earth

    Severe heat and cold top list of deadly natural hazards

    Data compilation by region, type of hazards shows deaths from more frequent events accumulate into significant numbers. Lightning strikes also high on the list.

    By Laura Sanders
  10. Earth

    Improved Cars: Chu on It

    Hey Detroit: Lighten up, the incoming Energy Secretary recommends.

    By Janet Raloff
  11. Health & Medicine

    Dual therapy best for nasty prostate cancer

    Dual therapy that adds radiation to medication for aggressive prostate cancer yields better survival and fewer signs of relapse than drugs alone, a large Scandinavian clinical trial finds.

    By Nathan Seppa
  12. Tech

    Holiday Gifts: Blog Sites

    Sample other blogs and let us know of notables that we missed that are also worth sharing.

    By Janet Raloff