Ben Harder

All Stories by Ben Harder

  1. Health & Medicine

    Coffee beans, cavity-causing germs

    Compounds in coffee loosen the grip of bacteria that cause tooth decay.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Suspicious DNA: Chromosome study homes in on Alzheimer’s disease

    Several human chromosomes now face intensified scrutiny for possibly harboring genes involved in Alzheimer's disease.

  3. Health & Medicine

    Indoor tanning ups all skin cancer rates

    Artificial sunbathing using ultraviolet lights increases the risk of all types of skin cancer.

  4. Health & Medicine

    Vitamin Void: Heart disease may lurk in B12 deficiency

    Meatless eating typically improves cardiovascular health, but a dietary shortage of vitamin B12 may lead to an overabundance of the amino acid homocysteine in some vegetarians, which could pose a risk to their hearts.

  5. Humans

    Protection money: Budget favors defense and bioterror research

    The budget proposal that President Bush forwarded to Congress includes the largest-ever increase for scientific research and development, with particularly generous provisions for defense and health research programs.

  6. Earth

    Old pesticide still makes it to Arctic

    Molecules of the pesticides known as chlordanes, which belong to a class of long-lasting organochlorine pollutants, circulate in Arctic air years after they were applied in temperate latitudes.

  7. Health & Medicine

    Drink and thrive: Moderate alcohol use reduces dementia risk

    Alcohol appears to reduce aging drinkers' risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of age-related dementia.

  8. Earth

    Biotech-crop laws were big in 2001

    Twenty-two state legislatures passed bills in 2001 addressing agricultural biotechnology, which concerns the development of genetically modified crops.

  9. Health & Medicine

    Germs That Do a Body Good

    Research on probiotic bacteria—living microbes that confer health benefits when introduced into the body—offers growing medical promise.

  10. Earth

    Algae do battle with bioweaponry

    Beneath the frozen surface of Sweden's lakes, algae wage wars over nutrients, and one combatant apparently prevails by releasing chemicals toxic to its adversaries.

  11. Health & Medicine

    The right fats: Omega-3 fatty acids soothe inflamed colons

    A diet containing fish oil, which is rich in healthful omega-3 fatty acids, reduces symptoms of a colitis-like condition in rats.

  12. Humans

    Record science budget evaded proposed cuts

    Congress and the Bush administration have now agreed on unprecedented rises in funding for research and development programs.