Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Nov 30, 2017

'Spermbot' May One Day Help Treat Cervical Cancer

A biohybrid sperm microrobot might one day deliver anti-cancer drugs to tumors in the female reproductive tract, according to a new paper from Germany. The sci-fi-sounding microbot, which was described in a December article in the journal ACS Nano, consists of sperm from a bull combined with a plastic, 3D-printed...

Nov 30, 2017

Your Body's Internal Scale May Sense (and Fight) Weight Gain

The body may have an internal scale that senses how much a person weighs, so the body can regulate fat mass in response, a new study in rodents suggests. If the findings hold up in humans, the research could pave the way to novel treatments for obesity, researchers said in...

Oct 31, 2017

Here's How Space Travel Changes the Brain

Spending prolonged time in space can lead to striking changes in an astronaut's brain structure, a new study finds. These changes may help explain some of the unusual symptoms that astronauts can experience when returning to Earth. In the study, researchers scanned the brains of 34 astronauts before and after...

Oct 31, 2017

Here's Why a Man's Arm Looks Like Popeye's

He might not be a sailor or have a girlfriend named Olive Oyl, but a man in Japan did share something in common with the cartoon character named Popeye — a bulging biceps in his left upper arm, a new report of the man's case reveals. The 79-year-old man's visible...

Oct 31, 2017

Breast vs. Bottle: Weighing Infant-Feeding Options

Deciding the best way to feed a new baby is a very personal choice for a woman. Whether she chooses to breast-feed or use formula, feeding time is an important opportunity for a mother and baby to form a close bond with one another. Health professionals consider breast-feeding to be...

Oct 31, 2017

Many Vietnam Vets May Have Cancer-Causing Parasites: What Are Liver Flukes?

Hundreds of Vietnam War veterans may be infected with parasites called liver flukes, which can sometimes lead to cancer, recent research suggests. A recent study from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) found that, out of 50 blood samples submitted from Vietnam veterans, more than 20 percent tested positive...

Oct 31, 2017

Don't Blink: Striking Image Shows Bullet in Man's Eye Socket

A striking new image shows a bullet lodged in a man's eye socket. The 45-year-old man went to the emergency room after he was shot with a 0.22 caliber pistol, according to a new report of the case, published today (Nov. 30) in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology. The bullet went...

Sep 30, 2017

Tiny Acrobat: Louse Photographed Flipping and Twirling

Doctors in Mexico snapped a stunning photo of an acrobatic arthropod flipping and twirling. But the critter was far from a medical marvel — rather, the crab-shaped parasite was a lowly pubic louse. The doctors spotted the pubic louse (Phthirus pubis) when they were examining a 65-year-old man who said...

Sep 30, 2017

Diet Tweaks Could Ease Runner's Diarrhea

If you're a long-distance runner, it may be an all-too-familiar scenario: You're partway through your run when your stomach cramps and you need to find a bathroom — immediately. A small new study from Australia suggests that making some changes to your diet could help ease your tummy troubles when...

Sep 30, 2017

Man Says Apple Watch App Helped Detect Blood Clot, Saved His Life

A New York man is crediting an Apple Watch app with saving his life, after the app helped him detect signs of a life-threatening blood clot. Last Friday (Oct. 13), James Green who lives in Brooklyn, tweeted: Never thought a stupid lil wrist computer I bought two years ago would...

Sep 30, 2017

Did a Baby Really 'Kick Through' Her Mother's Uterus?

A pregnant woman in China experienced a life-threatening complication when her unborn baby seemingly kicked through her uterus, according to news reports. The woman, known by the pseudonym Zhang, was 35 weeks pregnant when she went to the emergency room because of extreme stomach pain, according to the New York...

Sep 30, 2017

Bacteria in Your Mouth Could Fuel Gut Diseases

Bacteria that normally live in a person's mouth could contribute to gut diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, a new study in mice suggests. The study found that, when certain strains of bacteria from the mouth make their way to the gut and settle...

Sep 30, 2017

Low-Fat Bacon? Scientists Use CRISPR to Breed Petite Piglets

A group of scientists in China has successfully modified the genes of pigs to create a slimmer swine. These low-fat pigs have about a quarter less body fat than normal pigs, according to NPR. The petite piglets were created using the genetic cut-and-paste tool CRISPR, which can be programmed to...

Sep 30, 2017

What Is Leptospirosis? Dozens of Cases Suspected in Puerto Rico

Dozens of people in Puerto Rico are suspected to have contracted leptospirosis, a bacterial illness, in the wake of Hurricane Maria, and several people have died from the disease. Yesterday (Oct. 24), officials in Puerto Rico said they had confirmed two deaths from the disease, according to CBS News. Another...

Aug 31, 2017

How Zika Virus Could Help Fight Brain Cancer

The Zika virus can be a serious health threat, especially to unborn children, but now researchers say the virus itself could help treat another devastating illness — brain cancer. A new study suggests that the same properties that make Zika a dangerous virus for unborn children could be useful in...