Humans
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Health & MedicineNew treatments may rally ex-president’s fight against cancer
Former President Jimmy Carter has a potentially lethal type of skin cancer that has already spread to his liver and brain. Recent improvements in medicine may help him fight it.
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EnvironmentInsecticide can change a spider’s personality
A chemical meant to kill moths affects the behavior of some spiders. It alters the spiders’ ability to capture prey — including those moths.
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EnvironmentSome pollutants made mice less friendly
Hormone-interfering chemicals make mice less social and may also alter their weight, a study finds. That affected the animals’ confidence — and behavior.
By Tara Haelle -
Health & MedicineSurvey finds U.S. schools start ‘too early’
The school bell dings too early for U.S. tweens and teens, a survey finds. Most kids start class well before the recommended 8:30 a.m.
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Science & SocietyMore data link vaping to smoking
A new study finds vapers who don’t smoke are likely to start — even when they initially had no intention of ever taking up a cigarette.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & MedicineChikungunya wings its way north — on mosquitoes
A mosquito-borne virus once found only in the tropics has adapted to survive in mosquitoes in cooler places, such as Europe and North America.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineNews Brief: Stress may break diet willpower
A new study suggests stress can affect our behavior — and willpower — by making tasty foods look more irresistible.
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EnvironmentNanosilver: Naughty or nice?
Nanosilver is in many products, from socks to toothbrushes. The tiny particles kill microbes. But it’s still unclear whether they can harm us or the environment.
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GeneticsDNA: Our ancient ancestors had lots more
Ancestral humans and their extinct relatives had much more DNA than do people today, a new study finds. It mapped genetic differences over time among 125 different human groups.
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EnvironmentCan house dust make us fat?
Materials found in dust, including common fats, may trigger human fat cells to grow. This might promote weight gain, some scientists worry.
By Beth Mole -
AgricultureOrganic food starts to prove its worth
Organic food often comes with a higher price. But research is showing that food grown this way can be better for the environment — and possibly for us.
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HumansJamestown: Unearthed graves tell tales of colony leaders
The newly uncovered 400-year-old remains of four leaders of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia reveal details of the notable’s lives — and deaths.
By Bruce Bower