Articles

It's spring, and I'm attending a luxurious seafood banquet. Platters of shellfish fill the tables: crab with limbs akimbo; shrimp ready to be peeled; miniature lobster-like langostino peering at my dinner plate as if knowing their fate. Raw oysters sit in the center of the platter, piled absurdly…
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(This post originally appeared in the online anthropology magazine SAPIENS. Follow @SAPIENS_org on Twitter to discover more of their work.) There are multiple answers to the question of where we come from: early hominins, monkeys, primordial goo, or the Big Bang, to name a few. Today's answer,…
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New research identifies 17 rare human genetic variations associated with risk factors for diseases. The study shows how large scale genomic datasets can be used to help identify potential novel biological targets for studying cardiovascular and other diseases.
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Key sex-determining genes continue to operate in a mammalian species that lacks the Y chromosome, taking us a step further toward understanding sex differentiation, report researchers.
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When people are deprived of food, a number of biological mechanisms are set in motion to adapt the body's metabolism to the conditions of scarcity. One of these processes has been revealed by a team of researchers that has discovered how three important proteins collaborate on a genetic level to…
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From 2002 to 2014, there was an increase in the probability of having a prescription opioid use disorder among young adults using prescription opioids for non medical purposes, new research has found.
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From scissors and staplers to car keys and cell phones, we pass objects to other people every day. We often try to pass the objects so that the handle or other useful feature is facing the appropriate direction for the person receiving the item, but new research shows that we are less accommodating…
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Despite the fact that influenza leads to more hospitalizations and deaths among children than any other vaccine-preventable disease, parents frequently decline vaccinating their children against influenza because they don't perceive the need, according to a new case-control study.
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People are naturally predisposed to over-use "common-pool resources" such as transportation systems and fisheries even if it risks failure of the system, to the detriment of society as a whole, new research in game theory shows.
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Researchers report they have identified a protein that enables a toxic natural aggregate to spread from cell to cell in a mammal's brain -- and a way to block that protein's action. Their study in mice and cultured cells suggests that an immunotherapy already in clinical trials as a cancer therapy…
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Scientists have revealed how a genetic switch involved in the packaging of DNA may be key to a cancer cell's ability to keep growing.
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Our brains hold on to memories via physical changes in synapses, the tiny connections between neurons. Unexpected molecular mechanisms by which these changes take place have now been revealed by new research.
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A new type of nanodevice for computer microprocessors is being developed that can mimic the functioning of a biological synapse -- the place where a signal passes from one nerve cell to another in the body, report scientists.
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A new scientific study conducted by a team of geneticists has characterized how cells know when to stop translating DNA into proteins, a critical step in maintaining healthy protein levels and cell function.
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A new genetic disorder, which still has no name, has been identified using a national network and gene mapping tools. It shares similarities to two other rare genetic disorders arising from related genes, say researchers.
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Consuming an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, can stop a known trigger of lupus and potentially other autoimmune disorders, researchers have discovered.
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A new composite material that integrates seamlessly into living tissue could someday bind bones and tendons together following an injury. A synthetic mixture of ceramic dust and a polymer can be quickly 3-D printed in an endless variety of shapes and sizes, perfect for molding it to different body…
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The reproductive success of men in non-industrialized societies is closely tied to their social status, finds a new meta-analysis.
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Engineers have developed a 3-D printable ink that produces a synthetic bone implant that rapidly induces bone regeneration and growth. This hyperelastic "bone" material, whose shape can be easily customized, one day could be especially useful for the treatment of bone defects in children.
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Over two thirds (68 per cent) of the public would like more rest, according to the world's largest ever survey on the topic. The study also revealed that nearly a third (32 per cent) of respondents said they need more rest than the average person, while 10 per cent think they need less.
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Can having a few drinks help people with clinical depression feel better? Yes. At least in terms of biochemistry, say scientists.
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Researchers have received a five-year, $4 million federal grant to study how mobile technology can assist African American and Hispanic patients in adhering to their diabetes treatment plans.
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It's over a hundred years since the first case of Alzheimer's disease was diagnosed. Since then we've learned a great deal about the protein 'tangles' and 'plaques' that cause the disease. How close are we to having effective treatments -- and could we even prevent dementia from occurring in the…
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Genetic differences have been found that help to explain why some babies are born bigger or smaller than others. It also reveals how genetic differences provide an important link between an individual's early growth and their chances of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease…
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In a new study, researchers investigated what parts of the brain may be involved in deciding if something is worth the effort. The team found a relevant pattern of activity in three areas of the brain, the supplementary motor area (SMA), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and putamen.
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