Life Sciences
You Can Get Your Whole Genome Sequenced. But Should You?
There are 3 billion ways for something to go wrong with your DNA. But diseases caused by an error to a single gene—what geneticists call "big ticket" …
DNANight shift work may stop body repairing daily damage to DNA and trigger cancer, study suggests
Night shift work may stop the body repairing daily damage to DNA and raise the risk of mutations which lead to cancer, a new study suggests.<p>The link between working at night and poor health has been known for several years, with those who work after dark more likely to suffer diabetes, obesity, …
WellnessNew test can diagnose mysterious infections
Researchers have created a brain test that can discover the source "of virtually any neurological infection," according to Scientific American.<p>For …
MedicineCrispr Offers a Leap Forward for Diagnosing Disease
Scientists are hoping it can detect deadly ailments faster, cheaper and more accurately than current tests<p>By<p>Amy Dockser Marcus<p>Amy Dockser Marcus<p>The Wall Street Journal<p>Biography<p>Amy.Marcus@wsj.com<p>When it comes to treating deadly diseases, scientists are always looking for a method of diagnosis that …
GeneticsHalf of Painkiller Prescriptions Go to People With Anxiety and Depression
The Senate health bill, deemed “mean” by President Trump himself, proposes a number of budget cuts sure to devastate sick, elderly, and …
DepressionWhen Anxiety or Depression Mask a Medical Problem
It’s perfectly normal for someone to feel anxious or depressed after receiving a diagnosis of a serious illness. But what if the reverse occurs and symptoms of anxiety or depression masquerade as an as-yet undiagnosed physical disorder?<p>Or what if someone’s physical symptoms stem from a …
Medicine10 Amazing Things Scientists Just Did with CRISPR
1 of 12<p>CRISPR technology<p>It's like someone has pressed fast-forward on the gene-editing field: A simple tool that scientists can wield to snip and …
GeneticsAmerican Medical Association joins other major groups in opposing Senate health bill
<b>(CNN) —</b> The largest association of doctors in the country, the American Medical Association is joining many of the nation's leading medical and advocacy groups in voicing its opposition to the latest version of the Republican health care bill.<p>In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell …
Health Care35 science jokes that are so cringe-worthy they might make a scientist groan
Scientists take their world- and life-changing work very seriously.<p>Whether it's charting the possible consequences of climate change, helping predict when we might die, or keeping tabs on nuclear weapons stockpiles, their work can take on a huge gravitas.<p>But we all need to unwind, and sometimes …
ChemistryWhy does light keep us awake and darkness make us sleepy?
<i>A new study found a protein in the brain that responds to light and darkness.</i><p>Many of us have heard that going to sleep when it is dark outside is …
NeuroscienceHow getting a dog can bring you better health
Man's best friend can be our best exercise partner as well.<p>Study after study has shown dog owners are more physically active than the average …
Harvard Medical SchoolExotic Feline Rescue Center
Lions and tigers and leopards, servals, pumas, bobcats, lynxes, and ocelots... oh my!<p>When Joe Taft founded the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center …
Animal BehaviorHow bubbles can help us treat cancer
Oxford scientist Eleanor Stride has engineered a new way to deliver cancer drugs with precision<p>Injecting bubbles in the bloodstream is usually the …
CancerGOP Medicaid cuts would hurt much more than health care
The program contributes to lower dropout rates, more college degrees, higher earnings, emptier jails and thriving economies. In short, the American dream.<p>The Senate’s new health bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, proposes even deeper cuts to Medicaid than the House bill. At risk is a program …
Health CareHow CRISPR Yanked Jennifer Doudna Out of the Ivory Tower
The pioneer biochemist feels a responsibility to weigh in on ethical debates about gene editing.<p>Jennifer Doudna remembers a moment when she realized how important CRIPSR—the gene-editing technique that she co-discovered—was going to be. It was in 2014, and a Silicon Valley entrepreneur had …
GeneticsAmerican Medical Association: Republican health bill violates “do no harm” standard
The biggest doctors’ lobby argues that the bill violates that standard “on many levels.”<p>The biggest doctors’ lobby in the United States came out strongly against Senate Republicans’ health care bill on Monday.<p>The American Medical Association declared its opposition to the bill in a letter from its …
Health CareHope for people with chronic Lyme? Scientists rush to develop new tests
Despite being treated with antibiotics multiple times for Lyme disease, Deborah Schlueter still experiences distressing symptoms, like a weakness on her right side and an occasional sensation that a bolt of electricity is spreading through her body. Her lingering symptoms are a mysterious side …
MedicineYour DNA-Based Diet Plan? He's Got an App for That
Imagine using your DNA sequence to plan your life. Before you hit the gym, your phone buzzes with a personalized workout routine based on an analysis …
Genetics7 Impressive Turmeric Hacks for Healthy Living
Turmeric is a powerful spice that has been used in Asia for thousands of years; not only to add flavor to the cuisine but as a medicinal herb. It has …
Alternative MedicineHow to Make Camping in Scorching Hot Weather Enjoyable
Extreme weather is quickly becoming the new normal. In Phoenix last week, it was too hot for some airliners to fly. A woman hiking in Death Valley suffered third-degree burns to her bare feet.<p>Here’s what you need to know to adapt.<p>Clothing<p>The basic idea is to keep the sun and bugs off while allowing …
The New England Journal of MedicineThe Workout That’s Just As Effective As Physical Therapy For Back Pain
You might be able to shelve your meds afterwards<p>A barking back can do more than derail your gym plans—it can make even everyday activities feel insurmountable. But popping pills for back pain can do more harm than good, as we reported. So what can you do to feel better?<p>You might want to …
PainFast, Precise Cancer Care Is Coming to a Hospital Near You
Of all the cancers in the world, lung cancer is the deadliest. This year, the National Cancer Institute estimates it will kill 150,000 people, …
CancerChimps' strength secrets explained
<b>The greater strength of chimpanzees, relative to humans, may have been explained by American scientists.</b><p>A study suggests the difference is mostly due to a higher proportion in chimps of a muscle fibre type involved in powerful, rapid movements.<p>The findings do not support previous work suggesting …
MuscleTourette Syndrome Patient: My Life With a Brain Implant
Before she had a piece of electronics implanted in her brain to treat her Tourette’s syndrome, Kayley Thorpe says her life could be horrifyingly …
SingularityFrom braille to Be My Eyes – there's a revolution happening in tech for the blind
Apps are linking visually impaired people to sighted volunteers as assistive technology enters a new era of connectivity<p>“Connected to other part,” my iPhone says to me as I stand somewhere in London’s Soho, trying to decipher the letter on the top of a bus stop.<p>“Hello?” says an American woman, …
Ray Kurzweil5 Signs You May Have a UTI — and What To Do About It
If you have female anatomy, it's not unlikely you’ve had a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, some 40 to 60 percent of women will develop a UTI in their lifetime — and UTIs usually don't only strike once. …
MedicinePa. defends choice of one medical marijuana grower
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania health officials are defending their decision to award a coveted medical marijuana grower’s permit to a firm whose …
CannabisSmartphones Open a New World for Medical Researchers
Doctors say abundant health data gathered by phones produces better, more timely studies<p>By<p>Charles Wallace<p>When smartphones first began collecting health data such as users’ heart rates and number of steps walked, doctors were dubious about the medical value of information gathered by a phone.<p>Three …
ResearchSenate Healthcare Bill Might Mean 28,600 More Deaths A Year, Medical Review Finds
In reality, people without health insurance face odds ranging from 3% to 29% higher of dying prematurely compared to someone who has health insurance, concludes the <i>Annals Of Internal Medicine</i> review. Taking the midpoint of those odds as a benchmark, Woolhandler suggested that about 1,300 people a …
Health CareYou Become a Worse Person When It's Hot Outside
The next time a friend calls you and asks for a favor, how willing you are to lend a hand may have a lot to do with one unexpected factor: the heat. …
Psychology