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In the first academic paper to be published by a sitting president, Obama assesses the effect of the Affordable Care Act and recommends additional healthcare priorities for future governments.

Medical error is not included on death certificates or in rankings of cause of death. This article in the BMJ assesses its contribution to mortality and calls for better reporting.

The decades-long search for gravitational waves ended in celebration after physicists finally directly observed the phenomenon – when two distant black holes collided.

Astrophysicist Mike Brown might have been partly responsible for ending Pluto's planethood, but recent analyses by him and Konstantin Batygin at Caltech have suggested another planet – some 5,000 times the size of Pluto – lurking beyond the Kupier belt.

Resesarchers from UCSF report that the sugar industry sponsored research which turned attention away from sugar's link with heart disease, instead stressing the effect of dietary fats and cholesterol.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed in this review that infection with the Zika virus could cause complications including microcephaly and brain damage in infants born to infected mothers.

MIT researchers link inequality to a large and growing gap in lifespans between the richest and poorest in the US, noting that low-income Americans can, on average, expect 10 to 15 fewer years of life.

This two-year-long study of 500 overweight volunteers finds that wearing a fitness tracker does not appear to improve the amount of weight lost.

The game of Go has long been viewed as challenging for artificial intelligence – this article introduces a new neural network algorithm which became the first to defeat a human professional player.

Researchers have created a new global atlas of light pollution, showing that the Milky Way is now invisible for 80% of Americans.

The team behind this study explored whether or not the length of human lifespan is constrained by species-specific genetic factors.

Susan Schneider Williams, wife of actor Robin Williams, presents the human side of research in this personal account of losing her husband to Lewy body disease.

An initial trial of an antibody therapy represents a positive step towards finding a treatment for early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

This article looks at trends in adult body mass, including the factors that are contributing to an increasing rise in obesity.

Reseachers discovered that new, deeper lakes are forming in east Antarctica each year, posing a potential future threat to low-lying populations.

Does doing exercise make up for sitting around all day? The authors of this article found that high levels of moderately intense activity can help.

The authors of this study went looking for a new antibiotic, and found it: up the human nose!

How many little white lies have you told today? The ease with which we tell lies grows with repetition, according to the findings of this paper.

This Special Communication provides an updated definition of the symptoms of Sepsis and Septic Shock.

This report exposes the link between the Zika virus and birth defects associated with microcephaly.

A report released on pre-print server bioRxiv documents an increased risk of certain cancers in rats, following prolonged exposure to mobile phones.

This study looked at what impacts different types of prostate cancer treatment had over a 10 year period.

Could the light from your phone be impairing your sight? Researchers investigated the causes behind two reported cases of temporary vision loss caused by smartphones.

In a revolutionary advancement, a paralyzed man has been equipped with a system that allowed him to control his right wrist and hand with his thoughts.

This study confirms that the '5 second rule' is not a thing - with at least some bacteria transferred to food as soon as it's dropped.

15 years after first setting out to achieve their goal, a team of scientists from the United States have succeeded in creating synthetic bacteria.

Struggling to sleep in your unfamiliar hotel room? This study found that the left half of the human brain stays slightly awake during the first night in a new place.

Exploring the gender bias in coding: women contribute higher quality open-source code than their male counterparts, but their suggestions are rejected more often.

Scientists have identified that Greenland sharks have an average life span of 272 years, with some living to over 400!

It's not what you say, it's how you say it. The authors of this study found that dogs can interpret tone of voice in ways not previously realised.

This paper examines the growing threat of antibacterial resistance, evidenced in a patient who had developed a resistance to even the strongest antibiotic without ever having taken it.

A team from MIT and Harvard have developed a 'second skin' that might one day help hide those wrinkles and protect you from the sun.

Who gets to live? The moral implications of self-driving cars are explored in this study.

The Editors of NEJM take a controversial stance on data sharing in this January 2016 piece, suggesting it may do more harm than good.

This trial of injectable hormonal contraception for men was stopped early after some of the participants reported negative side effects.

Authored by researchers from MIT, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the University of Leeds, this paper reports that the hole in the ozone layer was found to be about 20% smaller than the previous year.

This study investigates the link between the Zika virus and the dehabilitating neurological condition Guillain-Barré Syndrome, but much is still to be determined.

CNRS researchers have discovered that a planet relatively close to Earth may hold huge amounts of liquid water.

An investigation has revealed that women who take hormonal contraceptives are more likely to be diagnosed with depression or prescribed anti-depressants.

Fossils discovered by Australian researchers in a remote area of Greenland provide evidence to support a theory of rapid development of early-stage life on Earth.

This study found that pharmaceutical companies have increased the cost of over 400 generic drugs by over 1,000% since 2008.

Feeling trippy? The visualisations produced by these researchers show how the brain 'lights up' when taking LSD, with potential implications for its application as an anti-depressant.

Never mind the latest craft beer trend, scholars from China and the US have analysed the remains of some 5,000 year-old pottery to determine what went into one of the earliest brews.

The 3 planets discovered in this study are potentially habitable and just 40 light-years from Earth, making them the most suitable place to start looking for other life forms.

The researchers behind this paper looked at how an economic downturn can affect your health - and found that it has a drastic effect on the number of cancer deaths.

Who's to blame when you get sick? The findings of this paper debunk the idea that just one person brought HIV/AIDS to the United States.

Scientists have created the most accurate map of the human cortex to date, and their work brings huge benefits for future research.

Tired of rejections of your paper? These authors have a novel and comical approach to dealing with the situation.

A Perspective on the growth and spread of the Zika virus, and analysis of the reponse to date.

Dinosaurs were in decline long before the meteorite struck, according to the findings of this study published in PNAS.

Until this year it was widely believed that there was only one species of Giraffe, This research found that there are in fact four, and that they only mate with their own kind.

In an effort to combat the growing issues of Opiod addiction, these guidelines advise primary care physicians how they should be prescribing the drugs.

A newly identified bacteria described in this study has the ability to degrade plastic, pointing to potentially huge environmental benefits for the future.

This article describes the impact that the Zika virus can have on developing foetal brains, further evidence of the dangers of this growing epidemic.

What we eat has a huge impact on the world around us. The findings of this study suggest that adopting a vegetarian diet might be the best way to protect our environment.

Want to quit smoking? Going 'cold turkey' might be your best option, according to this study.

Eating your greens really is good for you! Research has proved that consuming more plant-based protein can lead to increased life expectancy.

They say the eyes are the window to the soul, but this time it was more a case of the eyes being the proof of the species! Distinctive pigment cells found by the authors of this study prove that the Tully Monster is a vertebrate.

A shocking discovery: 10% of the world's wilderness has been lost in the last 2 decades alone.

This paper was one of two studies published in Nature that dramatically increase our understanding of early humans and their 'hobbit' ancestors

Past their bedtime and still bouncing off the walls? This study explores the effect of smartphone and screen usage on children's sleep, with recommendations for how an integrated approach from key caregivers might result in improvements.

This research uncovers huge methodical flaws with the way that thousands of studies have been run and recorded.

The final frontier? Researchers from across the United States have identified potential health issues linked to deep space travel, with big implications for astronauts and future missions.

This article, later retracted, caused huge controversy when readers found reference to 'the Creator' throughout the text.

Many were surprised (and appalled) to learn that some U.S. doctors spend two hours in front of computers for every four hours they spend with patients.

Book lovers, rejoice! This research identified a link between reading and a longer life - all the more reason to not put down that page-turner.

This article engendered much debate for its proposal of an intriguing follow-up to the Human Genome Project: technology and an ethical framework for creating a synthetic genome.

This paper found that over 30% of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States are unneccesary.

Might a universal cancer vaccine be available soon? This study has caused many to believe that a cancer-free future is closer than we think.

English bulldogs now claim the dubious distinction of being the unhealthiest canine breed, thanks to overbreeding by humans.

The American Statistical Association warns that the incorrect use and interpretation of p-values may be damaging to science.

The truth is out there: this study suggests that there may be ten times more galaxies in existence than previously thought.

Researchers at Rutgers University have discovered that sea levels have risen faster in the last century than at any point in the previous 2,700 years.

If you have small kidney stones, you may be able to benefit from riding a rollercoaster--at least, according to a group of doctors who ran ingenious experiments with silicone kidneys aboard sixty Disney World rides.

Sadly, this study found that happy life events may trigger "takotsubo syndrome" (broken heart syndrome).

We've long known of the link between smoking and cancer. This study gives us new insight into precisely how tobacco smoke does its damage.

In the library with the lead pipe? No, the fate of Lucy--"among the oldest and most complete fossil hominin skeletons discovered"--was much less nefarious. She likely died of a fall from a tall tree.

Scientists may have found the fountain of youth! By clearing the body of damaged cells, this study's authors prolonged the life of mice by over 30%.

This study suggests that humans are but a small, rather insignificant part of the ever-growing tree of life.

Happiness has no bearing on one's health, according to this study.

Great news for gym bunnies: this study found that exercise is associated with lower cancer risk, even for smokers.

In this study, parapalegic patients had improved outcomes after using virtual reality.

Psilocybin, a compound found in "magic mushrooms", was found to help mental health outcomes in a small group of patients suffering from depression.

Humankind has certainly made its mark upon Earth, according to this study: the Anthropocene era has been found to have distinct environmental markers, including radioactive fallout particulates, plastics, and sea-level rise.

This study disproved the assumption that children are the cause for their parents' gray hairs. Instead, researchers found the genes responsible for those gray hairs, along with those linked to bushy eyebrows and patchy beards.

This study describes a very scary, colistin resistant super-bug that has been found in China.

Ask your doctor who's buying her dinner! This study found an association between pharamceutical industry-sponsored meals for physicians and their rate of prescribing name-brand medicines.

Opioid poisonings are on the rise among children, according to this article.

Among participants in the extreme US weight loss television show, "The Biggest Loser," few were able to keep the weight off long-term.

Struggling to shake the puppy fat? Dog's genes might be the cause behind their weight issues, according to the authors of this paper.

This study links alcohol consumption with cancer, especially among the sedentary. However, the risk was much smaller amongst the physically active--so get to running!

By monitoring a group of pregnant women, Brazilian researchers have been able to confirm the link between infection with the Zika virus during pregnancy and grave outcomes, including fetal death or growth restriction.

This study mapped the brain to help us understand how humans give meaning to words.

This paper describes an incidence of the oldest known cancer in humans. Researchers found evidence of tumours in a 1.7 million year old fossil from a human ancestor.

Bad news for those with a sweet tooth: this study found that soda taxes decreased the consumption of sugary beverages in Mexico.

This study found a genetic link between acne and delayed aging of the skin.

How many 'friends' do you have online? This study found that Facebook users who accept more friendship requests have a lower mortality rate.

New recommendations state that screening for colorectal cancer should being at age 50 years and continue until 75.

The introduction of meat and new ways of preparing food changed the path of human evolution. With less time needed for chewing, our early ancestors had the opportunity to develop in other ways.

Being lonely has many implications for your mental and physical health: this study found that loneliness can actually increase your risk of heart disease.