Humans

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Humans

    From the January 27, 1934, issue

    alt=”Click to view larger image”> FLASH-OVER AT 125,000 VOLTS Beauty is, indeed, the most important if not the only reason for the choice of this week’s front-cover picture. A glass insulator, of the kind that electrically isolates high-tension [power lines] so that they may carry their power uninterruptedly, is shown flashing over after withstanding a […]

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  2. Humans

    The Chosen: A New Crop of Scientific Minds; Student science competition announces finalists

    Forty high school students from 14 states and the District of Columbia have been selected to compete for the top prizes in the 2004 Intel Science Talent Search.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Wine Surprise: Heart-protective effect is independent of antioxidants

    Two studies in mice suggest that, if wine protects against heart disease, it's probably not because of the antioxidants that the drink contains.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    Good to the Bone: Strontium compound prevents some fractures

    An experimental drug containing strontium makes bones denser and decreases the risk of fractures, a study of elderly women finds.

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  5. Humans

    Letters

    Letters from the Jan. 31, 2004, issue of Science News.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    Bacteria Brew a B Vitamin Boost

    When looking for naturally rich sources of cobalamin, better known as vitamin B12, most people turn to meats. Because the essential nutrient generally isn’t present in plants, vegetarians run the risk of deficiency, which can cause neurological symptoms from tingling toes to disorientation and memory problems. Many of these people therefore turn to synthetic supplements […]

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  7. Health & Medicine

    Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis

    Women who consume little vitamin D develop multiple sclerosis at a rate about 50 percent higher than those who get lots of the nutrient.

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  8. Archaeology

    Lion skeleton found in Egyptian tomb

    Archaeologists found the skeleton of a once-mummified lion at an Egyptian site dating to more than 2,000 years ago, confirming suspicions that lions were revered as sacred animals.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    Drug fails in autism study

    In the most extensive test so far of its capability to treat autism, the controversial drug secretin has failed to help children with the neurological disorder.

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  10. Health & Medicine

    Telltale Charts

    Overturning a basic tenet of conventional wisdom in cardiology, new research suggests that more than half the people who develop heart disease first show one of the warning signs of smoking, having diabetes, or having high blood pressure or cholesterol.

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  11. Health & Medicine

    A Swiss Paradox?

    Gstaad, Switzerland, has gained renown for its challenging ski trails and celebrity sightings. Come summer, however, the area’s slopes host cows, not skiers. It now appears that milk from those cows produces cheeses rich in some heart-healthy nutrients. Where and on what Bossie grazes appears to make a big difference in heart-healthiness of cheeses made […]

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  12. Humans

    Letters

    Letters from the Jan. 24, 2004, issue of Science News.

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