Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Fine-scale structure of egg crucial for fertility
Scientists describe the shape of a protein required for conception. These new molecular details will lead to an improved understanding of how sperm and egg unite.
- Earth
Toxicologist to Become an NIH Director
A new director — equal parts scientist and communicator — will take over environmental-health agency.
- Health & Medicine
Protein found to set the heart’s cadence
Researchers have discovered a molecular metronome that sets the rhythm of the heart and blood pressure.
- Chemistry
Nanosilver disinfects — but at what price?
Silver demonstrates some unusual immunological impacts at the nanoscale.
- Math
Florence Nightingale: The passionate statistician
Florence Nightingale pioneered the use of applied statistics to develop policy and developed novel ways of displaying them.
- Earth
Marine pollution spawns ‘wonky babies’
Featured blog: Pollutants at sea can slow critters' sperm or induce DNA damage.
- Health & Medicine
Bone density may be determined in the gut
A surprising new connection between the gut and bones may lead to new forms of treatment for human bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
- Health & Medicine
Lifestyle may link depression and heart disease
The association between depression and heart problems could stem from a lack of physical activity and other lifestyle factors.
- Humans
Baby boys may show spatial supremacy
Two new studies suggest that, at 3 to 5 months of age, boys already outperform girls on mental rotation tasks.
- Health & Medicine
Many drug trials never see publication
Results of most drug trials are unreported, inaccessible to clinicians and patients, a new study confirms.
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- Health & Medicine
Brain reorganizes to make room for math
New research suggests that, as children learn arithmetic, the brain reorganizes dramatically as it shifts from handling only estimates of quantities to attaching precise quantities to symbolic numerals.
