Humans

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Health & Medicine

    New diabetes drug passes early tests

    The drug exenatide stabilizes and can reduce blood sugar in diabetes patients.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    Mutation linked to sinus infections

    People who have frequent sinus infections are more likely on average to carry one copy of the same genetic mutation that causes cystic fibrosis, even though they don't have that disease.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Colonoscopy screening would avert cancer

    Increased use of colonoscopy could significantly reduce the number of colon cancer deaths and wouldn't cost much more overall than other tests.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    Vitamin E targets dangerous inflammation

    Megadoses of vitamin E may reduce the risk of heart disease in people with diabetes and other conditions that produce chronic, low-grade inflammation.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    New test may spot colon cancer early

    An experimental test for colon cancer may detect the disease at a treatable stage more accurately than current, noninvasive screening techniques.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    Malaria vaccine waylays parasite in liver

    A new malaria vaccine tested in chimpanzees spurs an immune response against the parasite as it passes through the liver, halting it in most cases before it can get into the bloodstream and cause symptoms of the disease.

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  7. Humans

    Science gets a start on the space station

    Although the space station's main laboratories have yet to be launched, scientists are already using nooks and crannies in the existing structure to conduct experiments in biotechnology and physics.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    Lithium increases gray matter in the brain

    Used for decades to treat manic depression, lithium may stimulate the production of new brain cells, thus raising hope that it can treat strokes, Alzheimer's disease, and other conditions that kill brain cells.

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  9. Archaeology

    Massive Fishery Resurfaces in Amazon

    Native groups in an Amazonian region of Bolivia built a large-scale fishery and other earthworks at least 300 years ago, before the Spanish conquest.

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  10. Humans

    From the June 16, 1934, issue

    Fanciful creations of the photographer's art, the possible addition of element 93 to the periodic table, and a Triceratops skull on display.

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  11. Health & Medicine

    Better Form, Same Function: Liposuction doesn’t lessen health risks

    Liposuction doesn't improve the long-term health prospects of very obese people.

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  12. Humans

    Letters from the June 19, 2004, issue of Science News

    Scan or scam? Using laser technology that has an apparent resolution of only about half a centimeter is somewhat laughable (“Laser scanners map rock art,” SN: 4/3/04, p. 222: Laser scanners map rock art). I also wondered whether the “fresh coat of desert varnish” was an April fool joke. Actually, I really look forward to […]

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