Researchers find key genetic trigger of depression
Yale University researchers have found a gene that seems to be a key contributor to the onset of depression and is a promising target for a new class of antidepressants, they report n the journal Nature Medicine.
How dark chocolate may be good for diabetics
An ingredient in dark chocolate could help diabetics reduce high cholesterol levels, a study claims.
Aqueous cream 'aggravates eczema'
Cream often prescribed to relieve the symptoms of eczema may be making the condition worse, researchers claim.
Study backs Alzheimer's-B12 link
Evidence is mounting that levels of vitamin B12 may be connected to the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Religious diversity increases in America, yet perceptions of Christian nation intensify
While America continues to become more religiously diverse, the belief that America is a Christian nation is growing more intense.
Drought may threaten much of globe within decades
The United States and many other heavily populated countries face a growing threat of severe and prolonged drought in coming decades, according to results of a new study by National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) scientist Aiguo Dai.
Study reveals superior sedation method for children
Procedural sedation and analgesia is an essential element of care for children requiring painful procedures in the emergency department. Research provides evidence that when compared to ketamine alone, patients who receive a combination of ketamine and propofol have a slightly faster recovery time and suffer from less severe side effects.
Shock tactics: Bioelectrical therapy for cancer and birth defects?
Finding a simple, cheap and reliable way to manipulate stem cells is a major goal of current research into therapies for birth defects, regeneration of organs and multiple diseases, including cancer. Michael Levin and colleagues from Tufts University, Medford, Mass., have identified a novel bioelectrical signal that influences the behavior of stem cell derivatives. Their work reveals a potentially important new therapeutic strategy in stem cell medicine.
Early pregnancy in spring linked to child's susceptibility to food allergies
A child's likelihood of developing food allergies can be traced back to the season during which s/he completes their first three months of life in the womb, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Low testosterone linked to heightened risk of early death
Low testosterone levels seem to be linked to a heightened risk of premature death from heart disease and all causes, suggests research published online in Heart.
Paleolithic Humans Had Bread Along With Their Meat
Starch grains found on 30,000-year-old grinding stones suggest that prehistoric humans may have dined on an early form of flatbread, contrary to their popular image as primarily meat eaters.
Toads evolve into super-invaders
Scientists identify a "runaway evolutionary effect" that is speeding up the cane toad invasion.
Need Willpower? Clench Up
Clenching your muscles at the moment of decision can help boost self-control, research finds.
Marijuana Soda Provides a High Without the Smoke
A new line of pot-infused beverages masquerading behind soda flavors are now available to patients with a prescription for medical marijuana.
'Lubricin' molecule discovered to reduce cartilage wear
A team of researchers in North Carolina has discovered that lubricin, a synovial fluid glycoprotein, reduces wear to bone cartilage, a result that has implications for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Energy revolution key to complex life
The evolution of complex life is strictly dependent on mitochondria, the tiny power stations found in all complex cells, according to a new study by Dr. Nick Lane, from University College London, and Dr. William Martin, from the University of Dusseldorf.
A redeeming role for a common virus
A common virus that can cause coughing and mild diarrhea appears to have a major redemptive quality: the ability to kill cancer. Harnessing that power, researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Medical Center, are conducting a clinical trial to see if the virus can target and kill certain tumor types.
Dot Earth: How the Gulf Spill Was Good for America
Using conventional measurements, the gulf oil gusher was good for the economy.
'Unsafe' drug found in herbal tea
Herbal medicines marketed as weight loss aids have been found to include a drug withdrawn in Europe and US on safety grounds.
NASA-engineered collision spills new Moon secrets
A scientific team led by Brown University has produced the first detailed description of what lies below the surface at the Moon's poles. The soil and subsurface harbors water and an assortment of other compounds, including carbon dioxide, ammonia, free sodium, and, in a surprise, silver. The finding stems from a NASA mission that slammed a rocket into the Moon's south pole last fall. The collision threw debris into sunlight more than a half mile above the surface.
Why complex life probably evolved only once
The mystery of why complex life evolved only once might finally have been solved – suggesting it's unlikely to exist elsewhere
Sequencing the "Exposome": Researchers Take a Cue from Genomics to Decipher Environmental Exposure's Links to Disease
Anxious about BPA ? Petrified of pesticides? Plenty of scientific literature shows that concerns about certain chemicals' potential to up the risk for chronic disease are justified. And although genetics can predispose a person to many ills, more than half of disease risks--and possibly as much as 90 percent--likely stem from environmental factors, according to recent epidemiological research.
70-year-olds smarter than they used to be
Today's 70-year-olds do far better in intelligence tests than their predecessors. It has also become more difficult to detect dementia in its early stages, though forgetfulness is still an early symptom, reveals new research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, based on the H70 study.
UMMS biomedical researchers develop more reliable, less expensive synthetic graft material
With a failure rate as high as 50 percent, bone tissue grafts pose a significant obstacle to orthopedic surgeons attempting to repair complex fractures. Current synthetic substitutes rarely possess the bone-like properties needed for successful grafting and are often difficult for surgeons to manipulate in the operating room. In response to these challenges, researchers at UMass Medical School have developed a synthetic bone material called FlexBone.
Scorpion has welcome sting for heart bypass patients
A toxin found in the venom of the Central American bark scorpion (Centruroides margaritatus) could hold the key to reducing heart bypass failures, according to research from the University of Leeds.
Low-dose aspirin slashes colon cancer risk - study
Low doses of aspirin, taken daily and over the long term, cut cases of colorectal cancer by a quarter and the death toll from this disease by a third, according to a study published online on Friday by The Lancet.
Get a glimpse of Comet Hartley 2 less than two weeks before NASA probe's flyby
NASA's EPOXI spacecraft is closing in on a comet called Hartley 2 in advance of a November 4 flyby, but stargazers on Earth are already getting a fairly good look at the icy object, which is currently in the midst of an unusually close passage of Earth.
Warmer Arctic Spells Colder Winters
The Arctic is warming, and it's unlikely that will change any time soon. That could mean colder winters for the rest of us.
Poop Plastic Puts Waste to Work
A Sacramento-based company is turning sewage into biodegradable plastic. And no, it doesn't stink.
Vaccines could help elephantiasis spread
Parasitic worms adjust their survival strategy based on their host's immune response, meaning vaccines against elephantiasis might help it spread
Vancomycin is the drug of choice for treating cellulitis
Patients admitted to the hospital for the common bacterial skin infection cellulitis should be treated as a first line of defense with the potent antibiotic drug vancomycin rather than other antibiotics such as penicillin, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.
Generosity Might Keep Us Healthy
We did a little experiment where we gave people some money, ten dollars. And we said, “Hey, you can keep all this money for yourself or you can give as much of it as you want away.” What we found, consistent with all our past research, was that the more money people gave away, the happier they felt. Conversely though, the more money people kept for themselves the more shame they experienced.

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