Humans
- Brain
Analyze This: Sleep patterns vary widely across the world
Data on four very different groups of people show that sleep patterns vary based on the local environment, the culture and daily schedules.
- Health & Medicine
This mix turns pink when sunscreen wears thin
Many people know to put on sunscreen. Remembering to put more on is harder. A teen invented an indicator that glows pink when it’s time to reapply.
- Health & Medicine
Teens take on science in the age of smartphones
With nearly every teen using a smartphone, it’s no surprise teen scientists are studying them. Two teams do science with smartphones, one on procrastination, the other on self-esteem.
- Earth
Some food-packaging pollutants mess with the thyroid
Chemical pollutants may hurt the ability of the thyroid gland to make an important hormone. Teens may be most at risk.
- Health & Medicine
Library books could come with a side of germs
People transfer microbes to most of the things we touch. Does that extend to our library books? A teen did an experiment to find out.
- Archaeology
America’s first settlers may have arrived 130,000 years ago
An archaeological site where mastodon remains were found suggests that the first Americans may have arrived unexpectedly early.
- Health & Medicine
Tattoos: The good, the bad and the bumpy
Tattoos and their inks can cause regrets and allergic reactions. But here’s a surprise: Some inked body art may actually benefit health by boosting its host’s immune system.
- Animals
Flu fighter found in frog slime
A protein found in the mucus secretions of an Indian frog can take down a type of flu virus, a new study finds.
- Archaeology
This hominid may have shared Earth with humans
Newfound fossils in South Africa point to a far more recent age for Homo naledi than had been accepted. If correct, this hominid might have coexisted with humans — even interacted with our species.
- Health & Medicine
Active teens build strong bones for life
Adult bones develop much of their strength during adolescence. That’s why teens should stay active with running, jumping and other weight-bearing exercises, a new study finds.
- Archaeology
Stone Age dentists treated cavities with tar
Is Italy the home of dentistry? That’s where treated tooth decay has been found, dating back 14 millennia. Cavities appear picked clean with sharp tools. Ouch!
- Chemistry
Steady heartbeats may depend on white blood cells
Biologists have just found a new role for germ-fighting white blood cells. In the heart they appear to serve as pacemakers so that the heart beats regularly.
