Humans

  1. Health & Medicine

    Clotting protein hinders nerve repair

    A blood-clotting protein called fibrin seems to exacerbate the regrowth problems that plague severed nerves.

    By Nathan Seppa
  2. Health & Medicine

    Aerial War against Disease

    Researchers around the world are catching on to the idea of using satellites to predict where diseases may strike.

    By John Pickrell
  3. Health & Medicine

    Deciphering Virulence: Heart-harming bacteria flaunt unique viral genes

    By documenting genetic variation among bacteria responsible for a heart-damaging illness known as rheumatic fever, researchers may have opened paths to new preventive measures and treatments.

    By Ben Harder
  4. Archaeology

    Wild Chimps Rocked On: Apes left unique record of stone tools

    Researchers have uncovered the first archaeological site attributed to chimpanzees, which includes stone implements that were used to crack nuts on top of thick tree roots.

    By Bruce Bower
  5. Health & Medicine

    X rays tell stirring tale about fat

    X rays reveal how food processing shapes microscopic crystals of edible fats.

    By Peter Weiss
  6. Health & Medicine

    Researchers find how rhubarb remedy eases cholera

    Researchers in Japan have identified a natural compound responsible for the effectiveness of one rhubarb-based remedy to combat the overwhelming diarrhea that comes with cholera.

    By Nathan Seppa
  7. Health & Medicine

    Brave New Drug: Compound stops cowpox and smallpox viruses

    A new drug called HDP-CDV stops smallpox virus from replicating in lab tests and cowpox virus from replicating in mice, suggesting it could work as a treatment for smallpox in people.

    By Nathan Seppa
  8. Anthropology

    Unified Erectus: Fossil suggests single human ancestor

    A newly found fossil skull may clear up an ongoing debate about whether the human ancestor Homo erectus was a single or several species.

    By John Pickrell
  9. Health & Medicine

    Computer sharing tackles anthrax

    A drug-discovery effort using more than a million personal computers worldwide has identified thousands of compounds that could form the basis of a cure for anthrax.

    By John Travis
  10. Health & Medicine

    Clot busters may put elderly people at risk

    Very elderly people who get clot-dissolving drugs immediately after a heart attack are more likely to die during their hospital stay than similar-age patients who don't get them.

    By Nathan Seppa
  11. Humans

    Science Smarts: Talent search honors top student projects in math, science, and engineering

    Forty students reaped rewards for their excellence this week when the Intel Science Talent Search handed out the top awards in its 2002 competition for high school seniors.

    By Sid Perkins
  12. Health & Medicine

    Clever Combo: Hybrid vaccine prevents West Nile virus in mice

    A vaccine fashioned from pieces of dengue virus and West Nile virus protects mice against West Nile fever, suggesting it might work in people.

    By Nathan Seppa