Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Anthropology
A lion’s bite marks a fatal fight with a possible Roman-era gladiator
The first skeletal evidence of a gladiator show or execution involving an exotic animal comes from a Roman British man with bite marks from a lion.
- Psychology
Uncertainty is on the rise. Here’s how people can cope
Societal upheaval can trigger uncertainty, which makes people susceptible to cognitive traps. Experts suggest some simple tools can help.
- Psychology
Loneliness is higher among middle-aged Americans than older ones
Across much of the world, loneliness increases from middle age to later years. That trend is reversed in the United States, a new study shows.
- Health & Medicine
Autism rates rose again. Experts explain why
Autism rates are higher than ever before, probably because of more expansive and sensitive diagnoses. Those numbers highlight the need for more support for people with autism.
- Humans
Ancient horse hunts challenge ideas of ‘modern’ human behavior
An archaeological site in Germany suggests communal hunting and complex thinking emerged earlier in human evolution than once thought.
- Health & Medicine
Clinical trials face uncertain futures amid Trump cuts
The Trump administration has reportedly disrupted over 100 clinical trials. Science News spoke to researchers about the impacts on four of them.
- Health & Medicine
A messed-up body clock could be a bigger problem than lack of sleep
For a good night of sleep, consider getting your circadian rhythm back in sync with the sun. Here’s how to do it.
- Health & Medicine
A drug for heavy metal poisoning may double as a snakebite treatment
An initial clinical trial in Kenya found no safety concerns, a first step toward testing unithiol as a treatment for venomous snakebites in people.
- Health & Medicine
Three U.S. tick species may cause a mysterious red meat allergy
Two cases of alpha-gal syndrome suggest that the lone star tick isn’t the only species in the United States capable of triggering an allergy to red meat.
- Animals
Snakes are often the villains. A new book gives them a fair shake
From demon to danger noodle, human ideas about snakes can be as contradictory as the creatures themselves. In Slither, Stephen S. Hall challenges our serpent stereotypes.
- Health & Medicine
An overlooked organ may help the ovary function
No longer considered functionless, the “rediscovered” rete ovarii may be crucial for understanding “unexplainable” infertility and ovarian disorders.
- Anthropology
Denisovans inhabited Taiwan, new fossil evidence suggests
An expanding geographic range for these close Neandertal relatives leaves Denisovans' evolutionary status uncertain.
