All Sauce from Weekly Sauce:

Cancer growth can be fueled by flecks of ancient viral DNA lodged into the genetics of modern humans, a new study says. Overall, about 8% of the human genome is made of bits of DNA left behind by viruses that infected our primate ancestors, researchers say. Called “endogenous retroviruses,” these DNA fragments have long been…  read on >  read on >

Boredom is the key emotion behind most teens’ use of Instagram, a new study says. Teens open the app because they’re bored, then sift through its contents looking for interesting bits to relieve their boredom, researchers report. Then, bored by slogging through the site’s “content soup,” the teens log off, researchers found. “We saw teens…  read on >  read on >

Looking for a brand new smile? Many people with chipped, worn or indelibly stained teeth may ponder the possibility of veneers. They’re wholly cosmetic, typically aren’t covered by dental insurance and can cost thousands of dollars, so it’s best to understand veneers well before you embark on getting them. Experts at the Cleveland Clinic define…  read on >  read on >

Alix Popham played in two rugby World Cups and won a Six Nations Grand Slam before retiring in 2011 as a professional in the rough-and-tumble game. By 2020, he had already been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disabling brain disease long linked to repeated head trauma. Emboldened to…  read on >  read on >