Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Less Is More (Bone): Yearly osteoporosis drug reduces fractures
Older women with osteoporosis who received yearly infusions of a drug that prevents bone loss had far fewer fractures than did peers who didn't get the drug.
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- Anthropology
Kin play limited role in chimp cooperation
Male chimps collaborate in a variety of ways and, like people, often find partners outside of their immediate families for cooperative ventures.
- Archaeology
Peru’s Sunny View
Researchers have found the oldest solar observatory in the Americas, a group of 13 towers first used around 300 B.C. to mark the positions of sunrises and sunsets from summer to winter solstice.
- Humans
Letters from the May 5, 2007, issue of Science News
Mere kats? “Science behind the Soap Opera” (SN: 3/3/07, p. 138) shows that meerkats bear an uncanny resemblance to human beings. We, too, have an innate sense of responsibility for our group and individually commit acts of unspeakable violence. John HagerhorstFrederick, Md. Just a dram “Natural-Born Addicts: Brain differences may herald drug addiction” (SN: 3/3/07, […]
- Health & Medicine
Gardeners’ Friend Causes a Stink
An invasive ladybug species is contributing a bad taste to wines made from infested grapes.
- Humans
From the April 24, 1937, issue
Solving a local mystery and closing in on chlorophyll synthesis.
- Humans
Federal Citizen Information Center
This unit of the U.S. government provides practical guides and fact sheets, most of which are free, on a variety topics related to particular aspects of health, food, computers, and more. Recent free documents include “Sleep Disorders,” “Sunscreens and Tanning,” and “Internet Auctions: A Guide for Buyers and Sellers.” Go to: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov
- Health & Medicine
Diabetes from Depression: Older adults face dual risk
Adults 65 and older who report depressive symptoms are 50 to 60 percent more likely to develop diabetes than are their peers.
- Health & Medicine
Inherited Burden? Early menarche in moms tied to obesity in kids
Women who reach puberty at an early age are more likely to have children who are overweight.
- Health & Medicine
No heart risk from hormones taken near menopause
Contrary to some earlier indications, hormone replacement therapy might not impart heart risks to women who take it during their 50s.
- Anthropology
Children of Prehistory
Accumulating evidence suggests that children and teenagers produced much prehistoric cave art and perhaps left behind many fledgling attempts at stone-tool making as well.
