Humans
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Health care workers and long-term care residents should get COVID-19 vaccines first
With an initial 40 million doses of the vaccines, enough for 20 million people, anticipated by year-end, health officials are setting priorities.
- Health & Medicine
Long-lasting shots work better than daily pills to prevent HIV in at-risk women
A more discreet HIV prevention method — a shot once every eight weeks —could help to boost use in women at risk.
- Health & Medicine
Coronavirus shutdowns don’t need to be all or nothing
Governments are implementing more targeted restrictions like limiting restaurant capacity to slow a fall surge. Research suggests they could work.
- Health & Medicine
The FDA has approved the first drug to treat the rapid-aging disease progeria
Children with a rare genetic disorder called progeria age quickly and often die before they are 15. A newly approved drug may give them more time.
- Health & Medicine
Immunity to COVID-19 may persist six months or more
Even after recovery, the body continues to improve its antibody response to the coronavirus — perhaps thanks to viral bits hiding in the intestine.
- Health & Medicine
Oxford and AstraZeneca say their COVID-19 vaccine works too
A third major vaccine, which may be easier to distribute than others, appears to prevent disease and maybe transmission of the coronavirus.
- Neuroscience
Lonely brains crave people like hungry brains crave food
After hours of isolation, dopamine-producing cells in the brain fire up in response to pictures of humans, showing our social side runs deep.
- Archaeology
The biblical warrior Goliath may not have been so giant after all
Archaeological finds suggest the width of the walls of Goliath’s home city were used to metaphorically represent the Old Testament figure’s height.
- Health & Medicine
Here’s why COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer’s need to be kept so cold
Both Pfizer and Moderna built their vaccines on RNA. Freezing them keeps their fragile components from breaking down.
- Health & Medicine
New Pfizer results show its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95% effective
With final results – including showing its vaccine is 94 percent effective in the elderly – Pfizer is poised to request emergency use authorization.
- Anthropology
Ardi and her discoverers shake up hominid evolution in ‘Fossil Men’
A new book covers the big personalities, field exploits and scientific clashes behind the discovery of the hominid skeleton nicknamed Ardi.
- Neuroscience
Psilocybin may help treat depression, a small study finds
Researchers found that a compound in psychedelic mushrooms eased depression symptoms, but larger studies are needed.
