Latest fromHuman Science

What size penis is 'normal'?
Average penis size revealed: Scientists attempt to find what is 'normal' to reassure concerned men.

Kiwi twins born brown and white
Twins Jayden and Xavier Boughey have to convince their classmates they're brothers.

Researcher launches project to unmask everyday psychopaths
Your nearest psychopath might be your father-in-law, your boss, your financial adviser or even that guy your daughter is thinking about dating. Just who these people are, how many there are in our society and what helps them blend in are questions that have inspired a Waikato University researcher to launch a major project.

The everyday psychopath
Your nearest psychopath might be your father-in-law, your boss, your financial adviser or even that guy your daughter is thinking about dating.

Telltale signs give liars away
The most untruthful people are likely to look you straight in the eye and give confident, thought-out replies, research claims.

3D gamers score memory boost
Scientists just can't agree on whether video games will save you or kill you.

Herald on Sunday editorial: Give kids a reading habit these holidays
Parents, we report, are being urged to read to their kids over the holidays, or ensure they keep reading, to maintain their mental development.

Five strange but true scientific facts
Scientists have demonstrated how robots can learn much like tots do.

Pacific Edge first-half loss widens
Pacific Edge widened its first-half loss, spending more on the roll-out of products across America.

French praise Kiwi scientists tackling big issues
A research agenda focused on tackling the biggest issues facing New Zealand has been praised by the visiting head of one of France's largest research institutes.

Bilinguality can assist stroke recovery
Bilingual people are twice as likely to recover from a stroke as those who speak only one language, a study has found.

Five strange but true scientific facts
Women are less likely to get top jobs in companies that already have women in senior positions, according to analysis of 20 years of data.

Blood test for ovarian cancer '100% accurate'
A test that spots one of the deadliest female cancers with unprecedented accuracy has been developed by scientists.

Surprise find in dope study
Smoking cannabis during pregnancy produces infants who score better on one measure of brain development, according to a study of NZ children.

'Prehistoric goo' may prevent infections after major surgery
Scientists in Australia have replicated a sticky brown prehistoric "goo", believed to be the source of life on Earth, and discovered it has significant health benefits.

Study good news for coffee fans
Drinking three to five cups of coffee a day might help you live longer.

Tweak living humans' DNA
Humans who have had their DNA genetically modified could exist within two years after a private biotech company announced plans to start the first trials into a ground-breaking new technique.

Camera that gets you inside babies' minds
Researchers are attempting to go inside the minds of infants to get a baby's-eye-view of the first years of life.

Shakespearean bone to pick
Clergymen attempting to prove claims that a skull found in a Worcestershire church vault is that of William Shakespeare have been thwarted by a senior church lawyer who has barred them from carrying....

Strange but true
The phenomenon of 3D printing has given us printed guns, printed cars and printed hamburgers - now it might have ushered in the age of printed hair.

RWC: The science of winning
With two days to go, Massey University answers the hot questions on performance, featuring specialist opinion from across the university

With avatars, loved ones never die
Family members could be kept alive forever virtually so living relatives could interact with their avatars, an academic has suggested.

Monkeys do compensate for something...
The Herald's science writer Jamie Morton on this week's scientific breakthroughs.

Designer genes now a reality
Designer babies is getting closer to reality as scientists in China claim they're the first to use gene editing to create "designer dogs."

'Higher cancer risk' for IVF women
Women using IVF are a third more likely to develop ovarian cancer, the biggest study of fertility treatment in the world has discovered.

Fossils give scientists plenty to chew over
A set of 47 human teeth found in China is giving scientists food for thought.

Cold Comfort: Science behind cryonics
Cryonics: The preservation of animals and humans at ultra-cold temperatures is booming in the US, notwithstanding the $100,000 minimum price tag.

Pig organ transplants a step closer
Pig organs could soon be transplanted into human patients after Harvard University scientists found a way to genetically modify pig DNA to be more compatible with humans.

10 climate change canaries
It's been called the "Genghis Khan" of the ant world, and for good reason.