Humans
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Health & Medicine
A sticky problem solved
Researchers have identified a protein integral to making blood clot, a finding they hope will lead to better drugs for preventing clots in people at risk of heart attack or stroke.
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Humans
Explosions, not a collision, sank the Kursk
Analyses of the shock waves recorded at seismic stations across northern Europe indicate that the Russian submarine Kursk sank due to onboard explosions, not a run-in with another vessel.
By Sid Perkins -
Health & Medicine
Found: Mutation for deadly nerve disorder
Two research teams have discovered the genetic mutation that causes familial dysautonomia, a lethal hereditary disease that causes nervous system damage.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & Medicine
Radiation therapy keeps arteries clear
Two new studies add to the growing evidence that radiation treatment may keep arteries open longer after angioplasty.
By Linda Wang -
Anthropology
Rumble in the Jungle
A new book raises troubling and controversial issues regarding research on a famous South American Indian population.
By Bruce Bower -
Health & Medicine
Dietary stress may compromise bones
Internal conflict about what and how much to eat not only induces production of a stress hormone but also may eventually weaken bones.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & Medicine
Raloxifene doesn’t hike breast density
Estrogen-replacement therapy that includes estrogen increases breast-tissue density among postmenopausal women, but the estrogen-replacement drug raloxifene doesn’t.
By Nathan Seppa -
Anthropology
Human ancestors had taste for termites
Incisions on ancient bone implements found in South Africa indicate that human ancestors gathered termites, a protein-rich food source, more than 1 million years ago.
By Bruce Bower -
Health & Medicine
Cocaine link to heart attack bolstered
Regular cocaine use may account for one-fourth of nonfatal heart attacks in people under age 45.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & Medicine
Gene mutation can spur autoimmunity
A mutation of a gene on the X chromosome can lead to a dangerous autoimmune disorder and type I diabetes.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & Medicine
Mending a Broken Heart
Transplants of skeletal-muscle cells may help heal hearts damaged by illness or previous heart attacks.
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Anthropology
Gene, fossil data back diverse human roots
Ancient mitochondrial DNA extracted from Homo sapiens fossils and anatomical links among H. sapiens crania from different regions both support a theory of geographically diverse human origins.
By Bruce Bower