News
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Debate over Alzheimer’s enzyme flares up
Scientists continue to tussle over the identity of an enzyme implicated in Alzheimer's disease.
By John Travis -
EarthAlgal bloom is smothering Florida coral
The anomalous growth of a native alga—now blanketing the seabed in a huge swath off the southern coast of Florida—points to overfertilization with upwelling sewage.
By Janet Raloff -
Cancer patients accentuate the positive
Group therapy that promotes positive types of personal growth in breast cancer patients may also result in beneficial physiological changes.
By Bruce Bower -
AgricultureBt corn variety OK for black swallowtails
The first published field study of butterflies and genetically altered corn finds no harm to black swallowtail caterpillars from a common corn variety.
By Susan Milius -
Health & MedicineKeeping the beat
Muscle cells taken from embryonic rats and put into an adult rat's heart can transmit the electric signals that govern the heartbeat.
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TechRobotic heart surgery
By using robotic rather than conventional open-heart techniques, doctors can perform heart surgery with smaller incisions, giving patients less pain and speeding recovery.
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Health & MedicineEnzyme Shortage May Lead to Lupus
Without the enzyme DNase I, mice are vulnerable to symptoms of lupus, a debilitating autoimmune disease.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineCycling and surgery have similar effect
Among people with chest pain because of clogged heart arteries, regular exercise on a stationary bike reduced symptoms better than surgery did.
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Health & MedicineA hot new therapy?
Spending time in a sauna improves heart function in people with chronic heart failure.
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Planetary ScienceSeeing Saturn
After 5 years of interplanetary travel, the Saturn-bound Cassini spacecraft has taken its first picture of the ringed planet.
By Ron Cowen -
Health & MedicineProtein may signal heart problems
A protein already linked to inflammation is also a strong predictor of heart problems.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineNatural fluoride isn’t quite enough
In the absence of a public water-fluoridation program in eastern Germany, natural background concentrations of fluoride in drinking water affect children’s dental health.
By Ben Harder