Weekly Headlines (excerpts)

1.  Sleep deprivation alters connections in the brain, mouse study finds

Changes in types of synapses occur mainly in areas associated with memory

BY CATHERINE OFFORD 2 AUG 2024 

2.  ‘Like magic.’ AI determines the structure of small molecule drugs and catalysts, even with fuzzy data

Approach could speed the discovery of new medicines, herbicides, and other important compounds

BY ROBERT F. SERVICE 1 AUG 2024 

3.  News at a glance: Europe rejects Alzheimer’s drug, cancers rise in young Americans, and NASA finds a promising Mars rock

The latest in science and policy

BY SCIENCE'S NEWS STAFF 1 AUG 2024 

 4. Is the pay-to-publish model for open access pricing scientists out?

For cash-strapped researchers, fees are exacerbating long-standing inequalities in global science

BY JEFFREY BRAINARD 1 AUG 2024 

5. Toad extinction highlights deadly fungus spreading through Africa

The Kihansi spray toad is the first disappearance attributed to the BdCAPE strain of chytrid fungus

BY ERIK STOKSTAD 31 JUL 2024 

6.  How do celebrity suicides become contagious? New study provides clues

Mathematical modeling could help target prevention efforts

BY JENNIFER COUZIN-FRANKEL 31 JUL 2024 

7. Bad agar is killing lab yeast around the world. Where is it coming from?

Scientists are struggling to figure out why—and how—the standard growth medium is disrupting their studies

BY MOLLY HERRING 31 JUL 2024 

8.  Should humanity build a doomsday vault on the Moon?

As Earth becomes more unstable, some scientists are advocating for storing biodiversity off-world

BY ERIK STOKSTAD 31 JUL 2024 

9.  ‘Superpowered’ bats keep their hearing as they age

Findings may lead to better understanding of hearing loss in humans

BY HANNAH RICHTER 30 JUL 2024 

10.  Landmark trial may herald new era in HIV prevention

Twice-yearly lenacapavir injections provided 100% protection in study in African women

BY KAI KUPFERSCHMIDT 30 JUL 2024 

11.  Can infections cause Alzheimer’s? A small community of researchers is determined to find out

Following up tantalizing links between pathogens and brain disease, new projects search for causal evidence

BY JENNIFER COUZIN-FRANKEL 30 JUL 2024 

12.  In largest study of its kind, researchers track health effects of Hawaii wildfires

By following survivors for decades, the work hopes to fill gaps in wildfire research

BY VIRGINIA GEWIN 30 JUL 2024 

13.  ‘Body snatcher’ parasites blow holes in enemies, suck out their guts

Tiny flatworms with enormous mouths attack invaders of their snail host

BY ERIK STOKSTAD 29 JUL 2024 

14.  Does humidity make heat more deadly? Scientists are divided

Studies in climate chambers show humidity adds danger, but analyses of population-wide mortality rates suggest otherwise

BY MEREDITH WADMAN 29 JUL 2024 

15. ‘Sensational breakthrough’ marks step toward revealing hidden structure of prime numbers

Proof provides fresh tools to attack famed Riemann hypothesis, math’s biggest unsolved problem

BY ZACK SAVITSKY 29 JUL 2024