A network of young scientists and doctors aims to rebuild Venezuela’s devastated public health system | Science

A version of this story appeared in Science, Vol 375, Issue 6585. The reconnaissance trip in western Venezuela was going smoothly—until a gunman took aim at their windshield. It was March 2019, and two infectious disease specialists, Alberto Paniz Mondolfi and Carlos Hernandez, were driving back to their headquarters from villages in Venezuela’s disease-ridden Portuguesa … Read more

Young blood: Rejuvenating effects may be due to extracellular vesicles

Packages of RNA and proteins that bud off from cells have reversed some signs of ageing in mice, and they may account for the rejuvenating effects of young blood Health 10 March 2022 By Michael Le Page Artwork showing red blood cells SCIEPRO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY The rejuvenating effect of young blood could be largely due … Read more

Extremely Hot, Humid Weather Could Kill a Person Far More Easily Than We Thought

The human body might not cope with nearly as much heat and humidity as theory predicts. One of the first studies to directly assess humid heat stress among young people has found that when humidity is at an absolute max, the upper limit of human adaptability is just 31°C (87 °F).   That’s four degrees … Read more

Animal behaviour: Female mammals that suckle another’s young have more offspring

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre Suckling piglets suckling a sow Shutterstock / Thuwanan Krueabudda Mammals that share their milk produce more offspring over the course of the year – and the benefits are even greater than those seen when nursing mothers are supported in other ways, such as being provided abundant food or parenting help. The findings suggest … Read more

The Science Behind Why Some of Us Can’t Grow Big Muscles After Turning 50

There is perhaps no better way to see the absolute pinnacle of human athletic abilities than by watching the Olympics. But at the Winter Games this year – and at almost all professional sporting events – you rarely see a competitor over 40 years old and almost never see a single athlete over 50.   … Read more

Young stars illuminate ‘Chamaeleon’ stellar nursery in new Hubble image

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning new view of a stellar nursery illuminated by the bright blue light of young stars.  This vast stellar nursery, known as the Chamaeleon Cloud Complex, stretches 65 light-years wide, occupying most of the Chamaeleon constellation, which is visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Located 522 light-years away from … Read more

Spit take: Even young infants know we only swap saliva with the ones we love | Science

If you love someone, you’re probably willing to share spit with them. Whether it’s splitting an ice cream cone with your child or kissing your partner, we don’t mind trading a few germs with the people we hold dear. A new study reveals even 8-month-old children get the gist. When they see puppets or cartoon … Read more

Ancient Egypt: Mummy of a young girl is first with a bandaged wound

By Colin Barras Ancient Egyptians had a wide range of medical knowledge Andr After virtually unwrapping the mummified body of a young girl who died 2000 years ago, archaeologists have found something unique: an ancient Egyptian bandaged wound. The ancient Egyptians were no strangers to linen bandages, which they first used to wrap their dead … Read more

Elephants: Young males rein in aggression if older males are nearby

Young male elephants will sometimes attack humans or other animals, but seem less likely to do so if they are in the company of older males Life 22 December 2021 By Christa Lesté-Lasserre A male elephant acting aggressively Connie Allen Young male elephants appear to manage their aggression towards anything that isn’t an elephant by … Read more

Mysterious Object That Survived a Close Encounter With a Black Hole Is Unmasked

A mysterious cloud that somehow survived a close encounter with a supermassive black hole has now been unmasked. According to a new study of the object, called G2, it’s actually three baby stars, shrouded in a thick cloud of the gas and dust from which they were born. This interpretation offers a very tidy solution … Read more