Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Apr 30, 2014

3rd MERS Virus Infection in US Reported in Illinois Man

A man in Illinois is the third person in the U.S. now confirmed to have been infected with the relatively new and deadly virus known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today (May 17). The man is reported to be feeling well,...

Apr 30, 2014

In Women with Gestational Diabetes, Exercise Lowers Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Women who have gestational diabetes — a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and usually ends after the baby's delivery — can lower their risk of later developing type 2 diabetes by starting up an exercise routine, a new study has found. Having gestational diabetes may provide an opportunity...

Apr 30, 2014

Splash! How to Save a Wet Fitness Tracker

Some fitness trackers on the market are waterproof; some, you can even wear while swimming. Others resist a little water, for example sweat, splashes or showers, and a few are built only for dry activities and might get damaged if submerged in water. But accidents happen. Here are some tips...

Apr 30, 2014

Comfort Food Myth: Ice Cream May Not Boost Your Mood

SAN FRANCISCO — The idea that eating certain foods make us feel better when we're down may be a myth, psychologists say. In fact, we may simply feel better after some time has passed, regardless of what food we eat, a new study says. In the study, people were asked...

Feb 28, 2014

We'll Never Know if Statins are Safe While Commercial Interests Come First (Op-Ed)

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. What we know about statins comes almost entirely from commercial interests. So what we take for knowledge about their harms and benefits is actually information designed to optimise the...

Feb 28, 2014

What Is Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy (often referred to simply as neuropathy) refers to any condition that damages or disrupts nerves in the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves that connects the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord, to the rest of the...

Feb 28, 2014

To Live Longer We Have to Change Outdated Ideas of What It Means to Grow Old (Op-Ed)

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Despite being called a “grand challenge” alongside climate change and terrorism, the fact of an ageing society isn’t new; it has been proceeding quietly across all developed countries for...

Feb 28, 2014

Make It 7: More Fruit and Veggie Servings Needed?

Eating seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day reduces people's risk of dying, a new study suggests. The study also found that fresh vegetables may be slightly more protective than fresh fruit, and canned fruit may actually increase the risk of death. Researchers analyzed information from more...

Dec 31, 2013

Meditation, Mindfulness and Mind-Emptiness (Op-Ed)

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Ever been unable to sleep because you can’t switch off that stream of thoughts that seems to flow incessantly, mercilessly through your head? When your mental noise distracts you from...

Dec 31, 2013

Mindfulness Meditation May Reduce Anxiety, Depression

Mediation programs may help reduce anxiety, depression and pain in some patients, but may not lead to a boost in positive feelings or overall health, according to a new review study. The review analyzed information from 47 previously published studies with a total of 3,515 participants. Each study included a...

Dec 31, 2013

Genome of the Blood-Sucking Hookworm Decoded

Scientists have decoded the genome of a lowly, blood-sucking hookworm, an advance they say could lead to cures for hookworm infection, a painful condition afflicting more than 700 million people worldwide, mostly in underdeveloped countries. But the worm's unique relationship with the human immune system means the new findings may...

Dec 31, 2013

If You Don't Like People Tweeting About Cancer, Don't Read It (Op-Ed)

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. If there is a set of rules about coping with cancer, I have never seen it. Perhaps in some circles a commonly accepted method exists. If so, I remain in...

Dec 31, 2013

No More Eye Drops? Contact Lens Protoype Delivers Glaucoma Meds

Like a miniature donut stuffed inside a tiny pita pocket, a common glaucoma medicine is sandwiched inside this specially designed contact lens. In laboratory experiments, the lens, which can also correct vision, releases the eyesight-saving medication at a steady rate for up to a month. Its construction offers numerous potential...

Dec 31, 2013

Devastating Plague Strains Arose Twice, Could Return

Many centuries before the Black Death wiped out a third to half of Europe, an equally virulent pandemic called the Plague of Justinian killed upwards of 100 million people in just two short years between 541 and 543 A.D. Scientists have long debated the connection between what have been called...

Dec 31, 2013

Numbers That Become Memes Can Be Dangerous to Society (Op-Ed)

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Some numbers are both memorable and incorrect. Take the idea that we only use 10% of our brains. Despite there being no medical evidence for the remarkably low percentage, many...