Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Anthropology
‘Y guy’ steps into human-evolution debate
The common ancestor of today's males lived in Africa between 35,000 and 89,000 years ago, according to a contested DNA analysis.
- Health & Medicine
Prostate enzyme triggers cancer drug
A new drug reverses advanced prostate cancer in mice by enlisting the aid of prostate-specific antigen, an enzyme found in most prostate tumors.
- Health & Medicine
Killing immune cells thwarts arthritis
Researchers have successfully treated people with rheumatoid arthritis by temporarily wiping out most of their antibody-producing immune cells.
- Health & Medicine
Firms vie to treat genetic disease
Successful treatment of Fabry's disease—a rare, fatal genetic condition—prompts a law suit.
- Health & Medicine
Lupus in Depth
The Lupus Foundation of America provides a comprehensive Web site about this autoimmune disease, which affects up to 1.5 million people in the United States. The site offers information on the kinds of lupus, causes, symptoms, testing, and treatment. Students and researchers may also find it useful to check detailed accounts of ongoing studies. Go […]
