New test kits in Brazil for Zika virus
The Brazilian Health ministry says it's developed new testing kits to rapidly identify the presence of three viruses - Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya - all carried by the same mosquito.
Weight gain through plasticizers
Researchers find the metabolic pathways responsible
Explosive underwater volcanoes were a major feature of 'Snowball Earth'
Explosive underwater volcanoes were a major feature of 'Snowball Earth' 720-640 million years ago
Cardiac arrests in high-rise buildings: Low survival rates above 3rd floor
Residents of floors 1-3 had better survival rates from cardiac arrests survival was negligible for people living above the 16th floor
‘Locked-in’ people show signs of awareness when faced with sums
'Locked-in' people show signs of awareness when faced with sums
Gene change could stop GM bacteria surviving outside the lab
How do you stop genetically engineered organisms from surviving and procreating outside the lab?
EU nurses face English language checks
Nurses and midwives coming to Britain from the EU will now need to prove they are fluent in English, under new rules.
When older adults stop driving, they may experience health declines
In older adults, declining health is a major reason they stop driving.
Nearing the limits of life on Earth
Failure to find active microbes in coldest Antarctic soils has implications for search for life on Mars
Mounting evidence suggests early agriculture staved off global cooling
7,000 years ago humans likely slowed a natural cooling process of the global climate
When Will We Reach the End of the Periodic Table?
Even with new elements in hand, scientists are struggling to predict the future of the iconic chemical roadmap
Head transplant carried out on monkey, claims maverick surgeon
The plan to perform a human head transplant is on track, says Sergio Canavero, after successful experiments on monkeys and mice
Prepare for a Celestial Spectacle as Five Planets Align
Five planets paraded across the dawn sky early Wednesday in a rare celestial spectacle set to repeat every morning until late next month.
Are beards good for your health?
If you were in search of a new, disease-fighting antibiotic, where might you start? In a swamp? A remote island? Well, how about combing beards?
Michael Mosley investigates.
Genetic variation may explain Asian susceptibility to Kawasaki disease
Riken scientists find two variations in a gene, one of which may help explain why people of Asian descent are more susceptible to Kawasaki disease
Memory capacity of brain is 10 times more than previously thought
New measurements of the brain's memory capacity increase conservative estimates to at least a petabyte, in the same ballpark as the World Wide Web
Evidence of a prehistoric massacre extends the history of warfare
The fossilised bones of a group of prehistoric hunter-gatherers who were massacred around 10,000 years ago have been unearthed 30km west of Lake Turkana, Kenya, at a place called Nataruk.
Strong Evidence Suggests a Super Earth Lies beyond Pluto
Astronomers have found compelling hints of a huge, unseen world that may reside in the murky reaches of the Kuiper Belt
Five planets align in dawn sky
Five planets are aligning across the dawn sky over the next month, in a rare treat for skywatchers.
Fairy Tales Could Be Older Than You Ever Imagined
Jack may have been climbing that beanstalk for more than 5,000 years
Toxic algae triggers dementia brain changes
Scientists say they now have good evidence in animals that exposure to a toxin from algae can trigger dementia-like changes in the brain.
New study zeros in on plate tectonics' start date
Analysis of trace elements places the onset of plate tectonics about 3 billion years ago
Stop spoon dosing
Changing dosing instructions from teaspoon to milliliter could reduce the risk of dosage errors by 50 percent
Study examines link between HPV and risk of head and neck cancers
Those with detectable HPV-16 are 22 times more likely to develop a type of head and neck cancer
Glowing tumors could help surgeons cut out cancer
Optical probes meant to improve tumor removal, could be a common procedure in the next 5-10 years
Hunting secrets of the Venus flytrap (hint: they can count)
Close examination of how the plants decide when to keep their traps shut and begin producing their acidic, prey-decomposing cocktail of enzymes
The aliens are silent because they're dead
Life on other planets would probably go extinct soon after its origin, due to runaway heating or cooling on their fledgling planets
These Unusual American Ants Never Get Old
P. dentata ants are among the very few species to show no signs of deterioration as they age
The effects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on pharmaceutical innovation
Concerns and potential outcomes, including diminishing access to medicines for the underserved, discussed in a commentary in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
Most cases of brain-damaged newborns not due to mismanaged deliveries
A study by researchers at Loyola University Medical Center and Loyola University Chicago is providing new evidence that the vast majority of babies who are born with severe brain damage are not the result of mismanaged deliveries.
Zebra stripes not for camouflage, new study finds
If you've always thought of a zebra's stripes as offering some type of camouflaging protection against predators, it's time to think again, suggest scientists at the University of Calgary and UC Davis.
Can Cannabis Treat Epileptic Seizures?
New evidence suggests that a chemical derived from marijuana may be an effective treatment for patients with drug-resistant forms of epilepsy
UK is 'vulnerable' to next Ebola outbreak
The UK is vulnerable to epidemics such as Ebola because of a gaping hole in the country's ability to manufacture vaccines, a group of MPs has warned.