09 – 15 October 2017
Deadly plague epidemic rages in Madagascar
An epidemic of the deadliest form of plague, pneumonic, has hit major cities and towns in Madagascar. Till now 343 people had been infected and 42 died, and numbers are rising rapidly. Find source
German researchers resign from Elsevier journals in push for nationwide open access
Five leading German scientists have resigned from their editorial positions at journals published by Elsevier, the latest step in a battle over open-access and subscription policies. Find source
Male scientists share more
Male scientists are more likely to share their published work than are women — but only with other men, a study of hundreds of researchers has found. Find source
New gene variants reveal the evolution of human skin color
Researchers have identified genes that help create diverse skin tones, such as those seen in the different races of Africa. Find source
Learning and staying in shape key to longer lifespan
People who are overweight cut their life expectancy by two months for every extra kilogramme of weight they carry, research suggests. Find source
