Educational Science

Amateur Historian Claims He's Found Mona Lisa's Resting Place

ROME (AP)—The world's most famously enigmatic woman may have shed some of her mystery. An amateur historian said Friday that he has found the final resting place of the woman some believe inspired Leonardo da Vinci's most renowned painting, the Mona Lisa.'' A death certificate shows that Lisa Gherardini—the Renaissance...

Anxious? Talk it Out

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, that identifies and corrects distorted thinking is effective at reducing symptoms in people with serious anxiety, a new review of research shows. About 5 percent of adult Americans at some point in their lives suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, a condition in which they worry about...

Somark Innovations announced biocompatible RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) ink, which can be used to tattoo cattle and laboratory rats and can be read through animal hair. It might even be used on humans eventually. This is a passive RFID technology that contains no metals; the tattoos themselves can be colored...

Dogs Get Found, Cats Stay Lost

A lost Fido is more likely to be found than a missing Tabby. Why? Because man’s best friend is more likely to have identification tags and dog owners are more prompt in searching for their missing pets, according to a new study. The findings, published in the Jan. 15 issue...

Caffeine Might Cut Post-Workout Pain

Forgo the after-workout massage for a cup o' Joe? Moderate doses of caffeine—the equivalent of two cups of coffee—can cut post-gym muscle pain, suggests a new but small study. The findings have particular relevance for people new to exercise, since they tend to experience the most soreness. “If you can...

Beverage Studies Biased in Favor of Industry, Researchers Say

Drug companies aren't the only spin game in town when it comes to biased health-research claims. Studies funded completely by food and drink companies on the nutritional benefits of soft drinks, milk and various juices are four to eight times more likely than independently funded studies to draw conclusions that...

Study: Microwaves Kill Kitchen Germs

Sponges and kitchen scrub brushes can be loaded with disease-causing viruses and bacteria. So microwave them, scientists say. Researchers soaked sponges and scrubbers in a disgusting brew of raw wastewater containing fecal bacteria, viruses, protozoan parasites and bacterial spores, including Bacillus cereus spores—known for being very hard to kill with...

Homicide Rates Higher in States with More Guns at Home

Guns are used to kill two out of every three homicide victims in the United States, and new research shows that easy-access guns in the home make a difference. Homicide rates are highest in states where more households have guns, the national survey concludes. The finding held even after taking...

Beavers Could Be Frogs Best Friends

Beavers' stream-clogging ways may be pesky to humans, but their dams might be just what some frogs and toads need to survive in their dwindling wetland habitats, a new study concludes. Cam Stevens of the University of Alberta and his colleagues conducted a survey of the calls of male frogs...