Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Dec 31, 2014

How Genes and Environment Conspire to Trigger Diabetes

Diabetes appears to be a disease written deeply in human genes, a feature millions of years old, which can emerge yet also retreat through the influence of environmental forces such as diet, a new study suggests. Researchers looked at how obesity, in particular, can trigger the onset of Type 2...

Dec 31, 2014

Here's What to Eat to Lower Inflammation

Ginger, nuts, fatty fish and whole grains are just some of the many foods that have been touted to have anti-inflammatory properties. But do they work? It turns out that experts agree that eating a diet rich in such foods may in fact help lower the levels of inflammation in...

Dec 31, 2014

What Makes Bill Gates Feel Stupid

Bill Gates built the world's largest software company, and with his billions, he's also become one of the world's most prolific philanthropists. But there's still one thing that he says makes him feel dumb: not being able to speak a foreign language. Gates took questions from the public today (Jan....

Dec 31, 2014

US Spike in Measles Cases Due to People Skipping Vaccinations

The sharp rise in measles cases in the U.S. is due to some people not being vaccinated against the disease, officials say. This is not a problem of the measles vaccine not working. This is a problem of the measles vaccine not being used, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon...

Nov 30, 2016

MDMA for PTSD? How Ecstasy Ingredient Works in the Brain

The active ingredient in the drug ecstasy is set to be studied in large-scale clinical trials as a treatment for people with post-traumatic stress disorder, the New York Times reported on Nov. 29. The ingredient, MDMA, has been shown to be effective in treating people with PTSD in smaller studies,...

Nov 30, 2016

Don't Drowse and Drive: Sleepiness as Risky as DUI

Even with holiday travel approaching, it's important to get enough sleep before getting behind the wheel: Missing 1 or 2 hours of sleep nearly doubles a person's risk for a car crash, a new report finds. And missing 2 to 3 hours of sleep more than quadruples the risk for...

Nov 30, 2016

'Pokémon Go' Got Players Moving for 6 Weeks…Then Fizzled

Playing Pokémon Go really does get people to walk more, but the effects appear to be short-lived, a new study suggests. Researchers found that during the week after people downloaded Pokémon Go, they took 955 more steps, on average, compared with people who didn't play Pokémon Go. The study involved...

Nov 30, 2016

'Nightmare' Superbug May Have Spread Outside Hospitals

Six people in Colorado recently became infected with a nightmare superbug that until now, has mostly been limited to people in hospitals, according to a new report. The new cases suggest the superbug may have spread outside of health care facilities. The superbug is known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE,...

Nov 30, 2016

The Longest Night: Do We Sleep Better on the Solstice?

There's a long night coming, literally — the winter solstice comes on Wednesday (Dec. 21), making it the shortest day and longest night of the year. But will that extra time of darkness help you sleep better? Experts say that in general, people do tend to sleep a little longer...

Nov 30, 2016

Baby's Feet Outside Mom's Uterus: Amazing Image Shows Rare Rupture

Just looking at this image might give the impression that this woman's baby literally kicked its feet right out of her uterus. But moms-to-be with kicky babies can rest easy — the MRI image showcases an extremely rare condition that was not caused by a baby's kick. The 33-year-old woman...

Sep 30, 2016

Leprosy: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Chances are, the mention of leprosy brings to mind skin falling from the bone and people cast away into quarantined colonies to prevent outbreaks. While this may have been a reality for those in the past, modern technology and treatments have made this disease a little less scary. CauseLeprosy is...

Sep 30, 2016

Deadly Mixture: Scientists Uncover Harmful Drug Interactions

Millions of Americans take more than one prescription drug, and often times doctors don't know which drugs, when combined, can cause serious illness or death. Sadly, such warnings come only after the damage is done, when enough clear reports of adverse reactions begin to emerge. Now, scientists at Columbia University...

Sep 30, 2016

3 New Vaccines Against 'Black Death' Plague Bacteria Show Promise

Plague is an age-old disease that can still be deadly today, but now researchers are developing new vaccines that could potentially protect against plague infection, early research in animals suggests. In a new study, researchers tested three vaccines that were designed to protect people against infection from the bacteria that...

Sep 30, 2016

Scientists Can Make People Hallucinate Using Flickering Image

How can we measure the mind? When you ask someone what they're thinking about, what they tell you is not necessarily the truth. This doesn't mean they're lying. It means many environmental, social and personal influences can change what someone tells us. If I put on a white lab coat,...

Sep 30, 2016

Placebo Pills May Help with Back Pain

People who take a placebo, sometimes called a dummy pill, along with their regular over-the-counter pain medication may get additional relief from their low-back pain, even if they know the placebo is essentially a dud, a new study finds. The study involved about 100 people with low-back pain that had...