Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Apr 30, 2023

Why do coughs linger after a cold?

Colds and other respiratory illnesses are never fun. After the sneezing, sniffles and runny nose fade, one symptom often remains: coughing. But why do coughs sometimes take forever to go away? The main reason coughs are long-lasting is due to lingering inflammation, said Dr. Albert Rizzo, chief medical officer at...

Apr 30, 2023

'Brain-eating' amoebas are a new concern in northern US states, health officials advise

Deadly brain-eating amoeba infections usually strike people in southern U.S. states, but thanks to climate change, the brain-invading organism has expanded its range northward. In light of this trend, the Ohio Public Health Association recently published a case report to raise awareness of the disease among health care providers in...

Feb 28, 2023

Unknown lineage of ice age Europeans discovered in genetic study

A previously unknown lineage of Europeans survived the coldest parts of the last ice age, only to vanish when Europe went through a warm spell starting about 15,000 years ago. The discovery comes from the largest study yet to look at the genetic makeup of ice age European hunter-gatherers. For...

Feb 28, 2023

Gene therapy: What is it and how does it work?

Gene therapy has been headline news in recent years, in part due to the rapid development of biotechnology that enables doctors to administer such treatments. Broadly, gene therapies are techniques used to treat or prevent disease by tweaking the content or expression of cells' DNA, often by replacing faulty genes...

Jan 31, 2023

FDA no longer requires animal testing for new drugs. Is that safe?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) no longer requires new drugs to be tested in animals before being approved. Thanks to a law passed in December 2022, the agency now has the option to approve drugs that are tested in only non-animal studies, including those that use lab-grown tissues...

Jan 31, 2023

What causes dimples?

In some cultures, dimples are seen as a sign of beauty or even good luck. But what causes dimples, and why do some people have them while others don't? Dimples are small, natural indentations in the skin. Around 1 in 5 people have dimples, according to a 2019 meta-analysis in...

Jan 31, 2023

Fitbit Inspire 3 vs Inspire 2: What’s new?

If you're looking to invest in one of the latest fitness trackers this Black Friday, you may be considering one of the latest models from the industry giant Fitbit. But which of these handy fitness gadgets is truly worth the money? Well, the Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 don't...

Jan 31, 2023

11 minutes of moderate exercise a day cuts early death risk by 20%, huge analysis suggests

Just 11 minutes of moderate physical activity a day could lower the risk of early death by 23%, a review of data from more than 30 million adults suggests. If everyone could meet this daily target, 1 in 10 early deaths worldwide could be prevented, the study authors propose. The...

Dec 31, 2022

Get up to 43% off top smartwatches with these January Fitbit deals

Struggling to find your fitness mojo? If there's one way to up your motivation levels and keep you accountable, it's investing in one of the best Fitbit deals to stir up some inspiration. Nowadays, these handy wrist-worn essentials can track your steps, monitor your sleep score and help you stay...

Dec 31, 2022

Newfound 'protective shield' in the brain is like a watchtower for immune cells

A newfound protective shield in the brain helps clear waste from the organ and serves as a sentry tower for watchful immune cells that monitor for signs of infection, scientists reported in a study of mouse and human brains. The study, published Thursday (Jan. 5) in the journal Science, describes...

Dec 31, 2022

Humans' big-brain genes may have come from 'junk DNA'

Scientists once considered much of the human genome junk because large stretches of its genetic code don't give rise to any proteins, the complex molecules tasked with keeping cells running. However, it's since been discovered that this so-called junk DNA plays important roles in cells, and in a new study,...

Dec 31, 2022

How does grief affect the brain?

Grief is something nearly everyone will experience at some point in their lives. It can be overwhelming and confusing, and it can make the death of a loved one difficult to navigate. But when someone is experiencing grief, what exactly is happening to their brain? According to Dr. Lisa M....

Dec 31, 2022

What is Blue Monday and is it really the most depressing day of the year?

Blue Monday falls every year on the third Monday in January. It is, supposedly, the most depressing day of the year, often attributed to a cocktail of poor weather, the post-Christmas lull, stretched finances and unattainable New Year's resolutions. But is it actually the saddest day of the year? The...

Dec 31, 2022

Sister André, world's oldest person, dies at 118

Sister André, a French nun who held the title of the world's oldest person, died Jan. 17 at age 118 in Toulon, a city in southern France. Born Lucile Randon on Feb. 11, 1904, she dedicated most of her life to religious service, according to Guinness World Records. As a...

Feb 14, 2024

'You cannot put people into arbitrary boxes': Psychologists critique the '5 love languages'

The now-famous love languages were first introduced in a book penned by Gary Chapman, a Baptist pastor and self-named marriage counselor. His book The 5 Love Languages (Northfield Publishing, 1992) skyrocketed in popularity, with its various editions selling around 20 million copies and landing a New York Times bestseller title....