Health & Medicine

Humans

Bag lunches invite disease, study finds

“Sack” lunches often pose a ticking bacterial bomb, a new study indicates. And including an ice pack or two — ostensibly to keep perishables at safe temperatures — won’t necessarily eliminate the risk.

Life

Common virus may ride up nose to brain

Almost everyone is infected, but in some people a widespread herpes bug appears to reach the central nervous system by an olfactory route.

Health & Medicine

Body & Brain

Chilled newborns, statin drugs for stroke, effects of mom’s stress and more in this week’s news.

Life

How exercise benefits nerve cells

Activity stimulates production of a neural insulation that moves messages faster.

Health & Medicine

Urine test may improve prostate screening

Levels of two biomarkers might clarify whether a man with an iffy PSA score needs to get a biopsy, a study finds.

Life

DNA switches tied to non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Genetic defects lead to altered activity in other genes.

Humans

Brain waves make a fast brake

New technology would allow drivers to slam on the brakes faster just by thinking about it.

Health & Medicine

One problem, many paths

Autism’s many genetic players may act through common networks.

Health & Medicine

Body & Brain

Sour news for cranberries, libido-sapping drugs, the social brain and more in this week’s news

Health & Medicine

Better transplants through centrifuging

Removing some antibodies from the blood of kidney recipients can improve their long-term outlooks, a study finds.

Humans

EPA considers new call for toxicity testing of BPA

The Environmental Protection Agency solicited public comment, July 26, about whether to require new toxicity testing and environmental sampling of bisphenol A, an ingredient in many plastics and food-contact resins.

Health & Medicine

Chimp brains don’t shrink

Primate studies aim to find out why humans get dementia.