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Cross section of the skull (top) and outer layer of the brain, showing the subarachnoid lymphatic-like membrane in green

Health

We've just discovered a new part of the brain's waste disposal system

A thin layer of tissue called the subarachnoid lymphatic-like membrane, or SLYM, keeps fresh cerebrospinal fluid separate from fluid containing waste from brain cells

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2FM22K7 The joy is evident on the face of this young orangutan. BORNEO: THIS BRITISH photographer has spent TWENTY years snapping Borneo?s cutest orangutans.

Life

Living in trees may have given great apes vocal skills for consonants

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T581Y7 In vitro fertilisation, IVF macro concept

Humans

The Song of the Cell review: A love letter to life's most basic unit

Culture

CTBXC4 Closed eye.

Health

Human hibernation sounds fanciful, but it may now be saving lives

Leader

A series of hominoid crania (counterclockwise from the L): juvenile Australopithecus, adult Australopithecus, adult chimpanzee, juvenile chimpanzee, adult Homo erectus (center). Specimens photographed at the UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

Humans

Our ancestors’ prenatal growth sped up after we split from chimps

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Geneticist Svante Pääbo has been awarded a Nobel prize for his work on evolutionary genetics

Health

Nobel prize awarded for study of human evolution using ancient DNA

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Woman is standing on bathroom scales with happy smiling face on display, over colored background, top view of feet. Weight measurement and control. Concept of healthy lifestyle, dieting and fitness

Health

Weight loss advice isn't based on good evidence

Comment

^BHormone replacement therapy.^b Close-up of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) pills in a circular dispenser. HRT pills are synthetic hormones used to treat menopausal women. They counteract the hormone deficiency that occurs at menopause. These pills contain oestrogen, and often progestogen, drugs. HRT helps to prevent ^Iosteoporosis,^i ^Iatherosclerosis^i and ^Iatrophic vaginitis^i (where the vagina becomes thin and dry). Pills are taken daily on a monthly basis to coincide with the menstrual cycle. Adverse effects include nausea, tenderness of the breasts, fluid retention and leg cramps.

Health

Outdated research on HRT is letting people down

Leader

FEATURE CROP ONLY Galileos watercolours of the moon 'By courtesy of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities (MiBACT), Central National Library of Florence, Ban of Reproduction

Humans

Scientific illustrations illuminate work by Galileo, Einstein and more

Regulars

3D models of the femur and ulnae of Sahelanthropus tchadensis

Humans

Human ancestors may have walked on two legs 7 million years ago

An analysis of thigh and forearm bones from Sahelanthropus tchadensis suggests the early hominin was mainly bipedal, but the claim is controversial

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Humans

Chewing can increase your body's energy use by up to 15 per cent

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Humans

Losing parts of our voice box may have helped humans evolve to speak

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Humans

Shape of human brain has barely changed in past 160,000 years

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Humans

Life As Told By a Sapiens to a Neanderthal review: Joyful curiosity

Culture