Health & Medicine
- Health & Medicine
‘Super Size’ diet increases insulin resistance
Scientists study effects of a month-long fast food binge, finding that weight gain and insulin resistance may be related.
- Chemistry
BPA: On the way out? Sort of
Half-hearted bans won't really protect babies, much less the rest of us.
By Janet Raloff - Psychology
School-age lead exposures most harmful to IQ
New studies find lead exposure has greater potency in school-age children than in infants and toddlers, including effects on brain volume.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Scorpion venom neutralized
An antivenom drug commonly used in Mexico counteracts poisonous scorpion stings, researchers in Arizona find.
By Nathan Seppa - Life
For blood stem cells, the force is strong
Blood flow boosts production of blood stem cells, two new studies show.
- Chemistry
Nonstick chemical pollutes water at notable levels
Residues of nonstick chemicals — from unknown sources — appear to be approaching concentrations associated with adverse effects in laboratory animals.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Toothpicks match needles for acupuncture
Sham acupuncture works as well as the real thing for back pain, a study shows.
By Nathan Seppa - Life
Misread epigenetic signals play role in leukemia
A genetic mistake causes misinterpretation of epigenetic marks, leading to cancer.
- Earth
U.S. radiation dose has doubled
New analysis finds radiation-based medical procedures have skyrocketed.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Keeping artery plaques under control
Toning down a gene called CHOP may offer a way to reduce the risk of arterial plaque ruptures, which can cause heart attacks and strokes, a study in mice shows.
By Nathan Seppa - Earth
Report of earlier, longer puberty in girls
A Danish study finds young girls are entering puberty notably earlier than 15 years ago — for reasons that remain unknown.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Narcolepsy linked to immune system
Genome association study finds a second connection between the sleep disorder and the body's disease-fighting apparatus