Why Do Some Forms of Leukemia Affect Mostly Children?
Posted on January 11, 2023
| 6 minutes
| 1096 words
| Arica Deslauriers
Certain forms of leukemia tend to strike early in life and affect far more children than adults.
Leukemia, which disrupts normal cell growth in the blood and bone marrow, accounts for nearly one-third of all childhood cancer cases, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The disease manifests in various forms, and the subtypes that mostly affect children typically progress quickly and require immediate, aggressive treatment. Although similarities exist between childhood and adult leukemias, evidence suggests that the cancers don't share the same genetic roots.
[Read More]Why It Pays to Be a Bit of a Psychopath
Posted on January 11, 2023
| 3 minutes
| 604 words
| Arica Deslauriers
A small fraction of people are aggressive, manipulative and lack empathy or remorse — aka psychopaths. Given the social stigma psychopaths face, it's a mystery why such traits persist in society.
"For a long time, people have been aware that there are some people who don't play by the rules and are not cooperative," study co-author Matthew Gervais, an anthropologist at UCLA, told LiveScience. "There's been debate about whether those people benefit or incur costs.
[Read More]Why Males Die Before Females
Posted on January 11, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 234 words
| Trudie Dory
In humans and many other animals, males age faster and die earlier than females.
New research suggests this might happen because of intense competition over sex.
Scientists compared monogamous species with polygynous species, in which each male mates with many females. Males in monogamous species, such as the barnacle goose or the dwarf mongoose, naturally compete less over females than ones in polygynous species, such as the red-winged blackbird or the savannah baboon.
[Read More]Women on the Pill Choose Less Manly Men
Posted on January 11, 2023
| 4 minutes
| 647 words
| Trudie Dory
Women using the birth control pill prefer men with less masculine faces compared to nonusers, new research suggests.
Millions of women use hormonal forms of contraception, and some studies indicate the pill could affect partner preferences. A new study shows women were attracted to less masculine male faces after going on the pill, while their ratings of the attractiveness of female faces were unaffected. And in couples who first met when the woman was on the pill, the men were less likely to have manly faces than those who met when the woman was off the pill.
[Read More]You May Be More 'Neanderthal' Than You Thought
Posted on January 11, 2023
| 4 minutes
| 820 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
A female Neanderthal who lived in what is now Croatia 52,000 years ago is revealing that our "caveman" relatives may have passed on genes that play roles in cholesterol levels, eating disorders, arthritis and other diseases today, the researchers who sequenced her genome say.
And some modern humans are carrying around more Neanderthal DNA than scientists had thought: The study found that the genomes of modern human populations that originated outside Africa hold between 1.
[Read More]30 Indonesian Women (Accidentally) Founded Madagascar
Posted on January 10, 2023
| 4 minutes
| 646 words
| Arica Deslauriers
The land of freaky animals and amazing biodiversity, Madagascar was also one of the last places to be settled by humans. And new research suggests that didn't happen until about 1,200 years ago.
The colonization might even have been an accident, the researchers say. A small group of Indonesian women settled the island in one fell swoop, possibly making their way there after their trading vessel capsized.
"The unusual thing about this island is Madagascar is a long way away from Indonesia.
[Read More]Brain 'Noise' Increases With Age
Posted on January 10, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 378 words
| Patria Henriques
Like the wavy lines and snowy static that dance across old TV screens, your brain generates noise. Neuroscientists had thought that this brain noise, detectable by researchers using high-tech gear, wasn't important to the goings-on in your noggin. It was also suspected that this noise would decline with age as children grew up and their mental processes became more efficient. But new research suggests that noise actually increases with age and is a sign of greater complexity in the brain.
[Read More]Climate Change Drove Some Neanderthals to Cannibalism
Posted on January 10, 2023
| 3 minutes
| 435 words
| Patria Henriques
Six Neanderthals who lived in what is now France were eaten by their fellow Neanderthals some 100,000 years ago, according to gruesome evidence of the cannibalistic event discovered by scientists in a cave in the 1990s.
Now, researchers may have figured out why the Neanderthals, including two children, became victims of cannibalism: global warming.
While prior studies have interpreted Neanderthal remains to find proof of cannibalistic behavior, this is the first study to offer clues as to what may have led Neanderthals to become cannibals.
[Read More]Genetic Mutants? 5 Strange Science Facts About Moms
Posted on January 10, 2023
| 5 minutes
| 885 words
| Arica Deslauriers
Many people will spend Mother's Day, this Sunday (May 11), celebrating the love, warmth and emotional support they get from their mothers.
But did you know that many moms are also genetic mutants whose very brains altered in the process of motherhood? Yes, this makes good old mom sound a little bit like an X-man, but there's science behind it, we promise.
So this Mother's Day, we've rounded up some of the stranger scientific facts about motherhood.
[Read More]Holiday sale: Save up to 39% on All About Space magazine, plus read a free issue here
Posted on January 10, 2023
| 1 minutes
| 212 words
| Patria Henriques
Hey Space fans! If you love Live Science's space section, we have a special treat for you. (Also, thank you!) Our sister publication All About Space(opens in new tab) is offering a free look at their print magazine and 50% off subscriptions, guides, single issues and binders in our Cyber Monday sale.
Get Christmas all wrapped up with a subscription to All About Space (opens in new tab)from as little as £8.
[Read More]