Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Anthropology
Human fossils are oldest yet
Homo sapiens fossils found along Ethiopia's Omo River in 1967 date to 195,000 years ago, making them the oldest-known remains of our species.
- Humans
Bushmeat on the Menu
Studies of the bushmeat trade reveal that such meat appeals to people who can't afford anything else and to prestige seekers who certainly can.
- Humans
From the February 16, 1935, issue
Saving wild ducks, deciphering Mayan glyphs, and causes of deafness.
- Health & Medicine
Multiple Sclerosis
This Web site is an excellent starting point for anyone looking into multiple sclerosis (MS), whether as a patient, family member, doctor, researcher, or student. In addition to explaining this autoimmune disorder in detail, it offers links to sites that delve into treatments, current research, fundraising events, clinical trials of new drugs, and breaking news […]
- Health & Medicine
Healing Gone Haywire: Wound-repair genes signal cancer spread
An experimental test predicts which breast tumors will spread rapidly without treatment and which are likely to be less aggressive by tracking the activity of genes normally involved in mending injured tissue.
- Archaeology
In the Buff: Stone Age tools may have derived luster from diamond
Ancient Chinese people may have used diamonds to polish their stone axes to mirrorlike finishes.
- Humans
Letters from the February 19, 2005, issue of Science News
Negative thinking The article “Sweet Glow: Nanotube sensor brightens path to glucose detection” (SN: 1/1/05, p. 3) mentions “ferricyanide, an electron-hungry molecule.” This puzzled me no end. Aren’t ferricyanide molecules, unlike their ions, electrically neutral? I’m trying to visualize ravenous molecules gobbling up innocent electrons. Ernest NussbaumBethesda, Md. Ferricyanide is indeed an ion, with a […]
- Health & Medicine
Carcinogens in the Diet
The U.S. government has added chemicals commonly found in overcooked meat to the list of potential cancer causers.
- Health & Medicine
Against the Migraine
Migraines may be among the problems that stem from a common but rarely diagnosed heart defect, and researchers have discovered that repairing the defect cures some of the headaches.
- Health & Medicine
Southern blacks face excess risk of stroke
Blacks living in southern U.S. states have a greater risk of dying of stroke than do blacks living in northern states.
- Health & Medicine
Stroke patients show dearth of vitamin D
People recovering from a stroke have less vitamin D in their systems than do healthy peers, which could explain why stroke patients often have low bone density and risk breaking bones.
- Health & Medicine
High salt intake hikes stroke risk
People who consume a lot of salt are nearly twice as likely to have a stroke as are people who consume less salt, even when their blood pressures are equivalent.
