Disease and Illnesses
The Ten Most Significant Science Stories of 2024
From a total solar eclipse that captivated our continent to record temperatures that scorched the planet, these were the biggest moments of the year
An Alabama Woman Got a Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Transplant. Three Weeks Later, She Has 'Never Felt Better'
On November 25, 53-year-old Towana Looney became just the third living person to receive a pig kidney in an experimental procedure
Fat Cells Retain a 'Memory' of Obesity, Making It Hard to Lose Weight and Keep It Off, Study Suggests
Obesity leads to DNA alterations that affect gene activity and linger after weight loss, a finding that researchers say could help reduce stigma around the disease
Endangered Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frogs Are Making a Comeback
Scientists are celebrating the recovery of the species in Yosemite National Park, where they were decimated by the introduction of non-native fish and the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus
How Sugar Rationing During World War II Fended Off Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Later in Life
Babies who were conceived and born during the period of rationing in the United Kingdom were less likely to develop certain diseases as adults, a new study finds
Is Depression Contagious?
The science about whether mental health conditions can spread socially is uncertain, but exposure to an affected peer can drive awareness
These Are Americans' Biggest Fears in 2024, as the Country Is 'Becoming More Afraid'
Government corruption, loved ones becoming ill or dying, cyberterrorism and nuclear weapons topped the list of Chapman University's annual survey
Is Scurvy Making a Comeback? Two Recent Cases Highlight How the Illness Can Appear in the Modern World
Scurvy diagnoses in Australia and Canada suggest doctors should consider testing for vitamin C deficiency in patients experiencing poverty, food insecurity and social isolation
Can a Mother’s Mental Health Impact a Baby in the Womb?
Growing research indicates a pregnant woman’s stress level and overall mental well-being can affect fetal and child development, yet access to prenatal mental health care remains inadequate
Scientists Have Found Bacteria and Fungi 10,000 Feet Up in the Air
The discovery has implications for human health, since the microbes included some that were still viable, some that could be infectious to humans and others that carried drug-resistant genes
New Hampshire Resident Dies From Rare but Serious Mosquito-Borne Illness
It's one of four cases of Eastern equine encephalitis reported in the U.S. so far this year—and the state's first since 2014
Weight Loss and Diabetes Drug Could Slow Alzheimer's Progression, Preliminary Study Suggests
In a year-long trial, people who received a daily injection of liraglutide showed an 18 percent lower cognitive decline than people who received a placebo
WHO Declares Mpox Global Health Emergency. Here's What to Know
A new virus strain has been spreading primarily the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as nearby countries that had previously not reported mpox cases
Common Artificial Sweetener Linked to Increased Heart Attack Risk in Small Study
Healthy people who consumed 30 grams of the sweetener erythritol had an increased risk of blood clot formation, while people who consumed the same amount of glucose did not
When Vultures Nearly Disappeared in India, Half a Million People Died, Too, Study Finds
By being nature's clean-up crew, the often maligned birds help prevent the spread of diseases, according to a new study
Parasites Are Everywhere. Why Do So Few Researchers Study Them?
Aging parasitologists are working hard to inspire more students to enter the field
Alzheimer's Blood Test Outperforms Standard Diagnostics in New Study
The blood test accurately diagnosed Alzheimer's around 90 percent of the time, compared to 73 percent for specialists and 61 percent for primary care physicians
The Real Story Behind Netflix's 'The Decameron'
Loosely based on Giovanni Boccaccio's 14th-century collection of short stories, the series follows a group of Italian nobles and servants who flee to the countryside to escape the Black Death
Did Plague Cause the Mysterious Collapse of Europe's Early Farmers 5,000 Years Ago?
A new study finds widespread DNA evidence that an ancestor pathogen of the Black Death helped bring about the end of an agricultural society responsible for megalithic tombs and monuments, like Stonehenge
When a Debate Flop Raised Concerns About Ronald Reagan's Fitness to Run for Re-Election
During the 1984 campaign, the 73-year-old president meandered his way through his first face-off against Walter Mondale, prompting questions about his mental acuity
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