Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Humans
Letters from the June 24, 2006, issue of Science News
Timely suggestions Clock time has long been out of step with the heavens (“To Leap or Not to Leap,” SN: 4/22/06, p. 248). Since the adoption of time zones in the 19th century, we have accepted disparities of as much as 30 minutes at the edges of the time zones (more in some cases since […]
- Health & Medicine
Proof of Protection: Condoms limit infection by cervical cancer virus
Condom use reduces a woman's risk of being infected with human papillomavirus and of developing precancerous growths on the cervix.
- Health & Medicine
Antidepressant drugs show link to diabetes
People taking antidepressant medication might be at increased risk of developing diabetes.
- Health & Medicine
New drugs reduce blood sugar
Two experimental drugs can lower blood sugar significantly in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Health & Medicine
Glucosamine isn’t at fault
The popular dietary supplement glucosamine doesn't cause insulin resistance, the precursor of type 2 diabetes.
- Health & Medicine
Coffee protects against alcoholic cirrhosis
A sobering cup of coffee could provide protection against cirrhosis, a liver-scarring disease common in alcoholics.
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- Health & Medicine
Wasting Away: Prozac loses promise as anorexia nervosa fighter
Although often prescribed for people with anorexia nervosa, the popular antidepressant medication Prozac offers no better protection against the potentially fatal eating disorder than placebo pills do.
- Health & Medicine
Next Line of Defense: New drugs take on resistant leukemia
Two experimental drugs stop many cases of chronic myeloid leukemia that are resistant to the drug imatinib (Gleevec).
- Humans
Letters from the June 17, 2006, issue of Science News
Cuts on the bias After taking some of the bias tests, I am very skeptical (“The Bias Finders: A test of unconscious attitudes polarizes psychologists,” SN: 4/22/06, p. 250). Since the major tool is speed of reaction, and since my eyes are not too good now, the results were very curious and probably totally unreliable: […]
- Health & Medicine
Inactivity, not altitude, is probably behind blood clots
Low cabin pressure aboard aircraft is not to blame for the rare but dangerous blood clots that some passengers get during long flights.
- Anthropology
Variety spices up Neandertals’ DNA
A surprising amount of genetic diversity characterized Neandertals.
