Health & Medicine

  1. Health & Medicine

    Small tweaks prevent 1918-flu transmission

    Just a couple of small genetic changes in a pandemic flu virus prevented it from passing efficiently between lab animals.

    By Christen Brownlee
  2. Health & Medicine

    Orexin-blocking pill speeds sleep onset

    A new compound that inhibits the activity of the alertness-promoting brain peptide orexin shows promise as a potential sleeping pill.

    By Ben Harder
  3. Health & Medicine

    A Trans Fat Substitute Might Have Health Risks Too

    A controversial trial of a chemically modified fat called an interesterified fat suggests that it is more harmful than is a partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

    By Ben Harder
  4. Health & Medicine

    Ingredient Shuffle: A trans fat substitute might have risks too

    A controversial trial of a chemically modified fat called an interesterified fat suggests that it is more harmful than is a trans fat–rich, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

    By Ben Harder
  5. Health & Medicine

    Fatal Flaw? Antibleeding drug faces new safety questions

    The drug commonly used to slow bleeding during heart surgery increases a patient's risk of dying during the next 5 years.

    By Nathan Seppa
  6. Health & Medicine

    Many babies born short of vitamin D

    Even in the womb, babies face a high risk of vitamin D deficiency.

    By Janet Raloff
  7. Health & Medicine

    Vice Vaccines

    Vaccines currently in development could give people a novel way to kick their addictions and lose weight.

    By Christen Brownlee
  8. Health & Medicine

    Early Fix: Prion disease remedied in mice

    Diseases caused by misfolded proteins called prions can be reversed if caught early enough, experiments in mice suggest.

    By Nathan Seppa
  9. Health & Medicine

    Old cure may offer new malaria option

    An herbal-tea remedy for malaria contains a component that may form the basis of a novel drug against the disease.

    By Nathan Seppa
  10. Health & Medicine

    Trade-offs in fibroids treatments

    A minimally invasive procedure to cure uterine fibroids is less expensive, but also appears to be less effective, than surgery.

    By Nathan Seppa
  11. Health & Medicine

    Good Poison? Carbon monoxide may stifle multiple sclerosis

    A study in mice suggests that small amounts of carbon monoxide might alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

    By Nathan Seppa
  12. Health & Medicine

    Salve for the Lungs: Aspirin might prevent asthma

    Regular use of aspirin may prevent healthy adults from developing asthma.

    By Ben Harder