Health
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Should we use genome editing to make better babies? Here’s what the experts think
Every year, scientists like George Church get better at editing the genomes of human beings. But will genome editing help or hurt us?
On a mission to alleviate chronic pain
“At that time, it was just a wild idea, [...] that instead of just a loss of consciousness, anesthetics may do something to the brain that actually turns pain off.”
DMT: The strongest psychedelic most people have never heard of
Some scientists believe that DMT could revolutionize the treatment of depression.
Zuranolone: New antidepressant helps patients in just three days
Zuranolone might help people feel better sooner than if they were relying on standard treatment alone.
Dust mite juice: a new eczema treatment
The good news is that scientists have found a new way to treat eczema. The bad news is that it's drinkable dust mite extract.
What you eat can reprogram your genes
An expert explains the emerging science of nutrigenomics.
Therapy dogs help patients in the emergency room
A ten-minute visit from a therapy dog reduces emergency room patients' pain and anxiety.
Clues to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder hidden in the dark genome
The dark genome makes up 98% of human DNA. Scientists are just beginning to understand its role in cognitive disorders.
What side is your appendix on? The right, unless you have situs inversus
Human organs don't always show up where doctors expect.
Drug that cleans up cholesterol may reduce post-stroke dementia
Researchers look to an FDA-approved drug ingredient that can "scoop-up" and store cholesterol and possibly stave off post-stroke dementia.
Five-minute breathing exercise can lower blood pressure
A small study suggests that IMST is as effective as medications or 30 minutes of aerobic exercise.
Does sex count as exercise? Scientists describe the physical demands of intercourse
A study finds that sex is "moderate intensity physical activity," similar to light jogging or leisurely swimming.
Miracle berry: The flavor-changing fruit that reveals the illusory nature of our senses
Bite into a miracle berry and you'll perceive intense sweetness — but only after you eat something acidic, too.
Safer painkillers: A novel drug treats pain without killing people
Painkillers have nasty side effects, such as organ damage or addiction. Researchers have discovered a new drug that may cause none of these.
A new treatment helped frogs regenerate their amputated legs – taking science one step closer to helping people regrow their body parts, too
Scientists looked for ways to trigger the “build whatever normally was here” signal for cells at the site of a wound.
Build strength with only three seconds of weight lifting per day?
Get stronger in only three seconds per day? New research shows that it is possible.
Jeff Bezos is looking to defy death. This is what we know about the science of aging
Altos Labs is an ambitious new anti-aging company with billions of dollars to back it up.
Too much body fat isn’t the problem — malfunctioning body fat is
Scientists at UCLA and Penn argue that malfunctioning fat, not necessarily too much of it, is what makes people metabolically unhealthy.
Death during sex isn’t just something that happens to middle-aged men, new study finds
Risqué or just risky?
Anencephaly: the babies born without brains
The catastrophic birth defect anencephaly affects about 1 in 4,600 pregnancies in the U.S. It is largely preventable with folic acid supplements.
Which country is the best place to die?
Scientists ranked countries on their end-of-life care. The U.S. fared poorly.
Battling “butterfly disease”: Experimental therapy successfully regenerates skin
A boy in Germany seems to be the first person to be cured of a rare and painful skin condition commonly called "butterfly disease."
When is the best time to exercise?
Morning, afternoon, or night: When is the best time to exercise? Scientists have extensively studied this question. Here's what they found.
Golden blood: The rarest blood type in the world
For the fewer than 50 people with this blood type, finding a blood transfusion could be extremely difficult.
The journey to a pig-heart transplant began over half a century ago
It started with a 22-year-old woman, named in papers only as Mrs McK.
Osteoarthritis: Stem cell treatment could regenerate cartilage without requiring surgery
Stem cell-derived chondrocytes could be the key to regenerating damaged cartilage.
There is little evidence for hangover cures
After a night of partying and heavy drinking, you might be tempted to Google "hangover cures." Unfortunately, there aren't any.
Psychosomatic illness: Are some diseases caused by our memories?
The brain appears to remember immune responses, and memories can trigger them to happen again. This might explain some psychosomatic illnesses.
Predatory publishing: Favoritism and self-promotion pollute peer review
Done properly, peer review requires that journals fulfill their role as knowledge custodians, rather than being mere knowledge distributors.