Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Humans
Letters from the February 25, 2006, issue of Science News
A squirt could hurt The fine piece about invasive sea squirts (“Squirt Alert,” SN: 12/24&31/05, p. 411) states that the critters maintain an unappetizing surface pH of 2. Does this make these mats harmful to touch? Andrew J. DolsonRichmond, Va. Robert Whitlatch of the University of Connecticut, who grows Didemnum in the lab, says it’s […]
- Health & Medicine
Saw palmetto flunks prostate exam
An herbal supplement used by 2.5 million men in the United States has failed to outperform a dummy capsule taken for urinary problems.
- Health & Medicine
Study upgrades protons’ risk to DNA
Proton radiation causes worse breaks in DNA than researchers had expected.
- Humans
Evolution in Action
Debates on the conflict between evolution and intelligent design are taking place not only in the courts but also in state legislatures and even among members of local school boards, where topics include curricula, textbooks, and the definition of science itself.
- Health & Medicine
Fooling the Satiety Meter (with recipe)
New studies in portion control reveal that diluted calories are far more effective at satisfying hunger than energy-dense ones are.
- Humans
Snowboarder and Astronaut
U.S. snowboarder Hannah Teter won a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. In a brief video she made for NASA, Teter explains why snowboarders would make good astronauts. Go to: http://brainbites.nasa.gov/snowboarder/
- Humans
From the February 15, 1936, issue
Rare apes, smallest radio transmitter, and light as electric rings of force.
- Health & Medicine
Looking Ahead: Tests might predict Alzheimer’s risk
Two tests show promise in detecting Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive impairment years before symptoms arise.
- Health & Medicine
Not So Sweet: Cancers in rats that consumed aspartame
A large, new study in rats suggests that the artificial sweetener aspartame may be a carcinogen, but critics question the finding's validity.
- Humans
Letters from the February 18, 2006, issue of Science News
Pain, pain, go away I’m pleased that images are now available to prove that self-control over pain works (“Brain Training Puts Big Hurt on Intense Pain: Volunteers learn to translate imaging data into neural-control tool,” SN: 12/17/05, p. 390). Actually, I and many other moms could have helped the researchers. During childbirth, we simply focused […]
- Health & Medicine
Alzheimer’s drug shows staying power
The drug memantine slowed mental decline in people with moderate-to-advanced Alzheimer's disease in a 12-month trial, the longest test of the drug to date.
- Health & Medicine
Of taters and tots
For each serving of french fries that a preschool girl typically consumed per week, her adult risk of developing breast cancer climbed.
