Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
It’s all just roughage
People at risk of the colon disorder known as diverticulitis don’t need to avoid nuts, corn and popcorn, as previously recommended.
- Health & Medicine
Amniotic sac not so sacrosanct
Infections found in amniotic fluid may be more common than thought and may cause premature birth.
- Humans
Obama, McCain Shun Science at the Podium
The presidential candidates have pledged to respond to science questions in a virtual debate.
- Health & Medicine
Looking beyond insulin
Leptin gene therapy reverses many of the consequences of type 1 diabetes in mice and rats.
- Chemistry
Popular plastics chemical poses further threat
The chemical bisphenol A may raise the risk of heart attacks and type 2 diabetes by suppressing a protective hormone.
- Health & Medicine
Stem cells, show your face
As researchers develop ways of reprogramming adult cells, such as skin cells, to have the same flexibility as embryonic stem cells, this new test shows that the reprogrammed stem cells are truly capable of becoming any cell in the body.
- Chemistry
Turning CO2 into chalk and sand
Removing carbon dioxide from smokestacks and storing it permanently is one of the possible solutions to global warming, but remains expensive to do. A new technique could make carbon sequestration economical on a large scale, while producing useful materials on the side.
- Psychology
World of hurt
Treatments shown to diminish psychological problems in traumatized youngsters often don’t get used, an exhaustive research review concludes.
- Health & Medicine
How mice smell fear
Mice may use a cluster of neurons known as the Grueneberg ganglion to detect alarm pheromones.
- Psychology
Undecided voters not so undecided
A measure of unconscious attitudes predicts the opinions that undecided people eventually reach on a controversial issue.
- Health & Medicine
Ear infections make fatty food sound good
A history of middle ear infections could give people an affinity for fatty foods and leave them twice as likely to become obese.
- Health & Medicine
Dopamine fends off zzzzz’s
A reward chemical in the brain helps keep sleep-deprived people awake.
