Weekly Headlines (excerpts)

1. Keto diet may cause organ damage, mouse study finds

High-fat, low-carb regimen stresses out cells in heart, kidneys, brain, and liver, but effects may be reversible

 BY MITCH LESLIE 17 MAY 2024 

2. Tool use keeps these adorable otters out of the dentist’s chair

Rocks and other objects allow the marine mammals to eat tougher prey without damaging their teeth—and females benefit most

BY PHIE JACOBS 16 MAY 2024 

3. An inflamed brain can trigger psychosis. The search is on for patients who might be cured

The discovery of rogue antibodies behind paranoia, hallucinations, and other symptoms could bring a “paradigm shift” to psychiatry

BY RICHARD STONE 16 MAY 2024 

4. Researchers reflect on the death of billionaire science donor Jim Simons and his charitable impact

A brilliant mathematician who made billions on Wall Street, Simons gave heavily to basic science and higher education

BY MADELINE REINSE 16 MAY 2024 

5. No humans needed: AI robots discover new laser materials on their own

Automated labs across the globe create, test, and assemble light-emitting compounds that could be used in advanced displays and telecom devices

BY ROBERT F. SERVICE 16 MAY 2024 

6. Human ancestors may have hunted cave bears 300,000 years ago

Later, more intense hunting by modern humans probably pushed cave bears to extinction

BY ANDREW CURRY 15 MAY 2024 

7. Watch a lizard-inspired building shed parts to escape catastrophe

Strategy developed by engineers could help save structures from collapse

BY PHIE JACOBS 15 MAY 2024 

8. Limits on access to DeepMind’s new protein program trigger backlash

Critics accuse Nature, which published the research, of failing to meet its own transparency standards

BY CATHERINE OFFORD 15 MAY 2024 

9. Why are elite athletes prone to abnormal heart rhythms?

Studying cardiac effects of extreme exercise could yield clues to atrial fibrillation

BY JENNIFER COUZIN-FRANKEL 14 MAY 2024 

10. Amid Haiti’s escalating chaos, a ‘heroic network’ keeps medical research running

Night bikers deliver meds and cholera sleuths persist as gangs dominate life and landscape

BY MEREDITH WADMAN 13 MAY 2024 

11. Born to run? Endurance running may have evolved to help humans chase down prey

“Pursuit hunting” was sometimes more efficient than stalking, survey of Indigenous hunting methods suggests

BY KERMIT PATTISON 13 MAY 2024 

12. Extreme solar storm generated aurorae—and ‘surprise’

The biggest disturbance of Earth’s magnetic field in more than 20 years dazzled onlookers the world over

BY MICHAEL GRESHKO 13 MAY 2024