All Stories by John Travis
- Health & Medicine
Caffeine may ward off Parkinson’s
Scientists may have found an explanation for why coffee drinking prevents Parkinson's disease.
- Health & Medicine
A vaccine to help ex-smokers
By generating antibodies that neutralize nicotine, a vaccine could keep ex-smokers from getting the nicotine high that drives many of them back to their bad habit.
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Perfect pitch common among the blind
Blind musicians are more likely to have perfect pitch than are sighted people.
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Blame the brain for lack of rhythm
Some people are born with dysmusia, a condition marked by difficulty learning to play music or recognizing melodies.
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Study casts doubt on minibacteria
Results from polymerase chain reaction experiments challenge the existence of ultratiny microbes called nanobacteria.
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Drug-resistance gene found—again
A mutant gene confers resistance to chloroquine upon parasites that cause malaria.
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Do Antibodies Pack a Deadly Punch?
These immune molecules may directly kill, not just tag, microbes.
- Health & Medicine
Lithium increases gray matter in the brain
Used for decades to treat manic depression, lithium may stimulate the production of new brain cells, thus raising hope that it can treat strokes, Alzheimer's disease, and other conditions that kill brain cells.
- Health & Medicine
Killing immune cells thwarts arthritis
Researchers have successfully treated people with rheumatoid arthritis by temporarily wiping out most of their antibody-producing immune cells.
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Milked enzyme thwarts muscle disorder
Using an enzyme made in rabbit's milk, scientists have successfully treated a rare genetic disorder.
- Health & Medicine
Firms vie to treat genetic disease
Successful treatment of Fabry's disease—a rare, fatal genetic condition—prompts a law suit.
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Nicotine metabolism may spawn carcinogen
The body may metabolize nicotine into products that the lungs subsequently may convert into a potent compound that causes lung cancer.
