Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Is alcohol linked to cancer? Here’s what the science says
A new U.S. Surgeon General's report describes the link between drinking alcohol and developing cancer. Many Americans aren’t aware of the risk.
- Health & Medicine
What to know about the first bird flu–related death in the U.S.
H5N1 has infected 66 people in the United States since early 2024, mostly causing mild illness. A Louisiana man was the first to get severely sick.
- Health & Medicine
AI helps doctors detect more breast cancer in the largest real-world study
AI is as good as clinicians at interpreting mammograms, a cancer study with nearly 500,000 participants in Germany suggests.
- Health & Medicine
The spread of breast cancer may be inherited
A variant of PCSK9, a gene involved in raising cholesterol, may spur metastasis. An approved antibody might stop it.
- Health & Medicine
Short bursts of physical activity cut women’s risk of heart attack
Even just a few minutes of vigorous movement per day lowers the risk of serious cardiovascular problems, like heart attack and heart failure, in women.
- Health & Medicine
Dogs team up with AI to sniff out cancer
Scientists paired Labrador retrievers with an AI model in a new screening test for breast, lung, colorectal or prostate cancer.
- Physics
Eyelashes’ special features help fling water from the eyes
Eyelashes “micro-ratchet” structure and curved shape help wick water away from the eyes.
- Health & Medicine
Telehealth helps people get health care, but access may soon be in limbo
COVID-era telehealth laws made health care more accessible for rural patients, but telehealth might not be as easy to access next year.
- Health & Medicine
Stage 0 breast cancer patients may not need to rush to surgery
Women with Stage 0 breast cancer who got biannual mammograms and delayed surgery for two years fared as well as those who got immediate surgery.
- Health & Medicine
Deaths related to the cold have grown since 1999 in the U.S.
From 1999 to 2022, the rate of cold-related deaths rose from about 4 per 1 million people to 9 per 1 million in the United States.
- Health & Medicine
Here’s how public health fared in 2024
Viral outbreaks, extreme heat and access to clean water are among the year’s big public health headlines.
- Archaeology
Archaeology’s top discoveries of 2024 include preserved brains and a lost city
From the plight of ancient Egyptian scribes to the identities of ancient Maya sacrifices, 2024 brought a rich medley of insights into human history.
