Humans

  1. Anthropology

    Cultures of Reason

    East Asian and Western cultures may encourage fundamentally different reasoning styles, rather than build on universal processes often deemed necessary for thinking.

    By Bruce Bower
  2. Health & Medicine

    Oxygen limits infections from surgery

    Giving patients extra oxygen during and shortly after colorectal surgery halves the incidence of infection.

    By Nathan Seppa
  3. Health & Medicine

    Stem Cell Gain: Bone marrow cells seem to have what it takes

    Tests show that a rodent bone marrow cell similar to one found in people acts as a multipurpose stem cell, much as embryonic stem cells do.

    By Nathan Seppa
  4. Health & Medicine

    Enough Isn’t Enough: An epidemic of vitamin D deficiency

    Many U.S. women of childbearing age, particularly those of African descent, lack sufficient vitamin D even though they consume the recommended amount.

    By Ben Harder
  5. Humans

    Dangerous Wake: Wing vortices yield a deadly secret

    A new mathematical analysis of an aeronautical hazard known as wake turbulence could someday lead to improved air safety and increase the number of flights at major airports.

    By Sid Perkins
  6. Health & Medicine

    Let Them Eat Cake: Altered mice stay svelte on a high-fat diet

    A protein that links gluttony and weight gain may be a novel target for antiobesity drugs.

    By Kristin Cobb
  7. Health & Medicine

    Chinese chimneys slash lung cancer risk

    People in rural China who replace rudimentary domestic hearths with well-ventilated stoves enjoy both less-smoky homes and a dramatic reduction in their risk of developing lung cancer.

    By Ben Harder
  8. Health & Medicine

    New clue stirs up lithium mystery

    Lithium and two other mood-stabilizing drugs may all work by depleting nerve cells of a chemical that the cells use to signal each other.

    By John Travis
  9. Health & Medicine

    Drug cuts risk of seizures in pregnancy

    An inexpensive drug treatment lessens the risk of seizures that sometimes strike and even kill women during pregnancy or immediately after delivery.

    By Ben Harder
  10. Health & Medicine

    USDA gives nod to irradiating meats

    The federal government approved food irradiation, the only technology known to kill an especially lethal strain of bacteria, for use on raw meats.

    By Janet Raloff
  11. Health & Medicine

    This roe’s got a fish-E surprise

    Scientists discovered a potent, new form of vitamin E, an antioxidant, in fish adapted for life in cold water.

    By Janet Raloff
  12. Health & Medicine

    The salmon that went moo

    People allergic to milk products could face potentially life-threatening risks by eating casein-treated fish.

    By Janet Raloff