Health & Medicine
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LifeFriendly fire blamed in some H1N1 deaths
A poorly targeted immune response to the 2009 pandemic flu virus caused young adults and the middle-aged to suffer more than usual.
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LifeWealth and ambition
A week in fancier digs inspires rats to seek richer rewards.
By Susan Milius -
HumansFood security wanes as world warms
Global warming may have begun outpacing the ability of farmers to adapt, new studies report.
By Janet Raloff -
LifeDieting may plant seeds of weight regain
Cutting calories causes changes in the brains of mice that appear to encourage binge eating under stressful conditions years later.
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ChemistrySnot has the power to alter scents
Enzymes in mice's nasal mucus can alter certain odors before the nose can detect them, a new study finds.
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HumansVitamin D targets increased
A panel advises raising the dietary allowance for the nutrient, but some scientists say the new recommendations are still woefully low.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineA few stray hairs
Brain regions that sense the world can also flick a whisker, research in mice shows, suggesting that the organ’s division of labor is not so clear-cut.
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Health & MedicineAntiretroviral drugs may prevent HIV infection
Gay and bisexual men who don’t have the AIDS virus can reduce their risk of getting it by taking a drug combination, a new study finds.
By Nathan Seppa -
HumansVisor might protect troops from blasts
Computer simulations show that the current military helmet lets explosive forces into the head through the face.
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HumansExtra weight in early childhood foretells later disease risk
A study tracking kids from birth into young adulthood identifies ages 2 to 6 as most crucial for predicting later problems with metabolic syndrome.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & MedicineNew drug bumps up good cholesterol
Anacetrapib raises beneficial HDL while lowering harmful LDL, a medical trial finds, suggesting it may be a powerful new weapon against cardiovascular disease.
By Nathan Seppa -
LifeGenes jump more in one type of autism
A mutation that causes Rett syndrome also increases the activity of retrotransposons in the brain.