Health & Medicine

  1. Neuroscience

    Abnormal sense of touch may play role in autism

    Autism-related genes are important for touch perception, a sense that may help the brain develop normally, a study of mice suggests.

    By Laura Sanders
  2. Life

    Refined ‘three-parent-baby’ procedure improves chances for healthy infant

    Improved technique could reduce risk of passing on faulty mitochondria.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  3. Life

    Obesity’s weight gain message starts in gut

    Acetate made by gut microbes stimulates weight gain, research in rodents suggests.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  4. Neuroscience

    Morphine may make pain last longer

    Instead of busting pain, morphine lengthened the duration of pain in rats with a nerve injury.

    By Laura Sanders
  5. Tech

    Nanoparticles beat back atherosclerosis

    Nanoparticles that find and destroy waxy plaques in blood vessels could be the next big treatment for heart disease.

    By Sarah C.P. Williams
  6. Life

    Bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotic appears in U.S.

    For the first time in the United States, scientists have reported a patient infected with a strain of bacteria carrying the gene mrc-1, making it resistant to the last-ditch antibiotic colistin.

    By Meghan Rosen
  7. Neuroscience

    Alzheimer’s culprit may fight other diseases

    A notorious Alzheimer’s villain may help bust microbes.

    By Laura Sanders
  8. Life

    Women in sports are often underrepresented in science

    More and more women are taking up recreational and competitive sports. But when it comes to exercise science, the studies don’t reflect that trend.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  9. Health & Medicine

    Researchers face off over whether newborns are really copycats

    Scientists disagree about whether babies can imitate movements and facial expressions shortly after birth.

    By Bruce Bower
  10. Life

    Scientists find way to break through bad bacteria’s defenses

    Enzymes can break down bacterial biofilm’s sugary walls.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  11. Health & Medicine

    CDC tracking 279 U.S. pregnant women with possible Zika infections

    The number of U.S. pregnant women with evidence of Zika infection has climbed to nearly 300, and includes both women with and without symptoms.

    By Meghan Rosen
  12. Genetics

    Risk identified in procedure for ‘three-parent babies’

    Resurgent mitochondria could spell trouble for disease therapy.

    By Tina Hesman Saey