Humans

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Humans

    From the February 13, 1937, issue

    A model for flood control and a 1-ton robot that solves equations.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    Don’t Push Babies’ Growth

    Overfeeding low-birthweight infants risks programming them for high blood pressure later in life.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Taking Cancer’s Fingerprint: Rapid genetic profiling for personalized therapy

    A new, faster way to identify cancer-causing mutations in the DNA of tumor cells may pave the way for the next generation of custom-tailored cancer therapies.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    Clear the Way: Stenting opens jammed arteries in the brain

    Using a tiny mesh cylinder called a stent, doctors can prop open narrowed arteries in the brain much as they do in the heart.

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  5. Anthropology

    Chimpanzee Stone Age: Finds in Africa rock prehistory of tools

    Researchers have uncovered evidence of a chimpanzee stone age that started at least 4,300 years ago in West Africa.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    Small tweaks prevent 1918-flu transmission

    Just a couple of small genetic changes in a pandemic flu virus prevented it from passing efficiently between lab animals.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    Orexin-blocking pill speeds sleep onset

    A new compound that inhibits the activity of the alertness-promoting brain peptide orexin shows promise as a potential sleeping pill.

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  8. Humans

    Letters from the February 17, 2007, issue of Science News

    Fear factor In response to “The Predator’s Gaze” (SN: 12/9/06, p. 379), I write as a psychiatrist and a mother. My ex-husband is now in prison, and my son likely carries the genes of sociopathy. The quality of fearlessness mentioned in the article seems to be one of the temperamental traits most associated with the […]

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  9. Health & Medicine

    A Trans Fat Substitute Might Have Health Risks Too

    A controversial trial of a chemically modified fat called an interesterified fat suggests that it is more harmful than is a partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

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  10. Humans

    From the February 6, 1937, issue

    Cause of floods revealed and bending light to view distant galaxies.

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  11. Humans

    More of the Same: 2008’s science budget mirrors 2007’s

    President Bush's proposed science budget for fiscal year 2008 closely reflects last year's recommended budget.

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  12. Health & Medicine

    Ingredient Shuffle: A trans fat substitute might have risks too

    A controversial trial of a chemically modified fat called an interesterified fat suggests that it is more harmful than is a trans fat–rich, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

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