Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
How often do asymptomatic people spread the coronavirus? It’s unclear
A WHO official said people without COVID-19 symptoms rarely spread the virus, but there’s a lot that researchers don’t yet understand.
- Health & Medicine
Lockdowns may have averted 531 million coronavirus infections
Policies that kept residents at home and closed businesses were largely effective at slowing the pandemic’s spread, two studies suggest.
- Health & Medicine
Taking hydroxychloroquine may not prevent COVID-19 after exposure
Hydroxychloroquine didn’t protect health-care workers from getting sick after being exposed to someone with COVID-19, a new study shows.
- Humans
Lidar reveals the oldest and biggest Maya structure yet found
A previously unknown Maya site in Mexico, called Aguada Fénix, adds to evidence that massive public works may have preceded kings in the civilization.
- Health & Medicine
What parents need to know about kids in the summer of COVID-19
So far, evidence suggests children don’t often get severely ill from COVID-19, but there’s more to learn about their role in its spread.
- Humans
The Dead Sea Scrolls contain genetic clues to their origins
Animal DNA is providing researchers with hints on how to assemble what amounts to a giant jigsaw puzzle of ancient manuscript fragments.
- Genetics
Genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s also raise the risk of getting COVID-19
People who have the APOE4 genetic variant appear to be more vulnerable to the disease, but it’s unclear why.
- Archaeology
A biblical-era Israeli shrine shows signs of the earliest ritual use of marijuana
Chemical analyses reveal a residue of cannabis and animal dung on an altar from a biblical-era fortress in use more than 2,700 years ago.
- Health & Medicine
Wastewater could provide up to a week of warning for a COVID-19 spike
A new study adds to evidence that sewage may serve as an early warning signal that the coronavirus has hit a community.
- Health & Medicine
Infecting people with COVID-19 could speed vaccine trials. Is it worth it?
To accelerate vaccine development, some experts argue we should purposefully infect volunteers with the coronavirus. Others warn of the risks.
- Health & Medicine
Is the coronavirus mutating? Yes. But here’s why you don’t need to panic
Some studies claim there are new strains of the coronavirus, but lab experiments are needed to see if mutations are changing how it infects cells.
- Neuroscience
How coronavirus stress may scramble our brains
The pandemic has made clear thinking a real struggle. But researchers say knowing how stress affects the brain can help people cope.
