Health & Medicine

Health & Medicine

Could disabling one protein cure the common cold?

Cold viruses — and there are many — seem to need this human molecule to spread.

Genetics

Explainer: How DNA testing works

Lots of companies will now test DNA from people and their pets. How do these gene-sequencing techniques work? We explain.

Brain

Slower brain development ups a teen’s risk of getting into a car accident

Lack of driving experience isn't the only factor in whether a teen gets into a car crash. Crash risk in young drivers is also related to development of their brains’ working memory.

Earth

Air pollution intensifies a teen’s feeling of stress

Living where the air is dirty may make tough situations even more stressful — especially for teens suffering from anxiety or depression.

Science & Society

Studies test ways to slow the spread of fake news

Don’t share news online until you verify it. New studies explore who shares fake news, how to spot false stories and how to fact-check.

Health & Medicine

Data show worrisome rise in youth vaping

Latest U.S. data show rates of vaping still on the rise among U.S. teens and middle-school students.

Animals

Could Wednesday Addams really jolt a frog back to life?

A spark that recalls some science history brings a dead frog to life in The Addams Family. Scientists are now using electricity to build the body.

Brain

The color of body fat might affect how trim people are

Brown fat burns calories to keep us warm. Researchers are searching for ways to boost it to help fight obesity and diabetes.

Life

Medicine Nobel honors discovery of how cells deal with oxygen

Three researchers figured out the chemical processes by which cells not only sense, but also cope with, differing levels of oxygen. This could lead to new medicines.

Health & Medicine

Scientists Say: Lymph

Lymph is a colorless fluid that bathes the body’s tissues and mops up bacteria, viruses and wastes.

Psychology

Social media doesn’t, by itself, make teens unhappy or anxious

Checking social media frequently doesn’t necessarily cause unhappiness, a new study finds. Sleep, exercise and cyberbullying are also key.

Health & Medicine

Ultrasound might become a new way to manage diabetes

Ultrasound turns on production of the hormone insulin in mice. Someday, it might help maintain healthy blood-sugar levels in people who were recently diagnosed with diabetes.