Health & Medicine

  1. Earth

    Nifty science

    Inspired research put select high school seniors on the path to the 2014 Intel Science Talent Search finals.

    By
  2. Health & Medicine

    Beautiful nails may harbor germs

    Two students wondered why they weren’t allowed to wear fake nails as nursing assistants. They decided to use science to probe why. What they found sent them to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

    By
  3. Health & Medicine

    For better weight control, fiber up!

    Certain types of fiber suppress appetite, at least in mice. Found in fruits, vegetables, oats and barley, this fiber breaks down in the gut to release acetate. That travels to the brain, where the chemical prompts the release of hunger-fighting hormones.

    By
  4. Health & Medicine

    Infected cutting boards

    Germs can hitchhike into the kitchen on meat and many types of produce. A new study finds that some of those germs are particularly nasty. They are immune to the one or more of the drugs doctors would prescribe to wipe out the infection.

    By
  5. Brain

    Ghosts in your head

    Many people see, feel and hear things that aren’t really there — despite how much their brain tries to convince them otherwise.

    By
  6. Health & Medicine

    New ‘Heartland’ disease emerges in U.S. Midwest

    A new viral disease causes major pain and flu-like symptoms. At present, no treatment or cure exists.

    By
  7. Brain

    Loneliness can breed disease

    Everyone experiences loneliness from time to time. But when allowed to persist, loneliness can damage your health and steal years from your life.

    By
  8. Health & Medicine

    Explainer: Tips for overcoming loneliness

    This assortment of tips can help overcome loneliness. The approach focuses on changing — for the better — those ways in which you and others interact.

    By
  9. Environment

    Poisonings linked to e-cigarettes

    A federal survey finds electronic cigarettes and the chemicals they burn are an increasing cause of reports of harm made to poison-control centers. Young children are often the victims.

    By
  10. Health & Medicine

    The nose knows a trillion scents

    There's a long-standing claim that people can identify 10,000 different odors. But a new study suggests that people can actually identify at least 10,000 times that many scents.

    By
  11. Health & Medicine

    Intel STS finalist uses math to predict breast cancer spread

    Intel STS finalist Esha Maiti developed a model to calculate the probability of cancer spreading to different areas of the body.

    By
  12. Health & Medicine

    Some of chocolate’s health benefits may trace to ‘bugs’

    Dark chocolate offers people a number of health benefits. A new study finds that the breakdown of chocolate by microbes in the human gut be behind some benefits.

    By