Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Feb 28, 2017

3 Women in Florida Left Blind by Unproven Eye Treatment

Three women went blind after receiving an unproven stem cell treatment on their eyes at a Florida clinic, according to a new report of the cases. The women, in their 70s and 80s, all had macular degeneration, a progressive eye disease that leads to damage of the retina, and can...

Feb 28, 2017

These 3 Superbugs Pose the Greatest Threat to Human Health

The World Health Organization is issuing a warning about a group of deadly bacteria: Recently, the WHO released its first-ever listof priority pathogens, a list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that the organization says pose the greatest threat to human health. The list is divided into three categories: critical-, high- and medium-priority....

Feb 28, 2017

'Alternative facts': A Psychiatrist's Guide to Distorted Reality

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. The phrase alternative facts has recently made the news in a political context, but psychiatrists like me are already intimately acquainted with the concept – indeed, we hear various...

Feb 28, 2017

Breast Implants Linked to Cancer: How Does It Happen?

Women with breast implants are at increased risk of developing a rare type of cancer, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. But how do these implants increase the risk of cancer? On Tuesday (March 21), the FDA said that, in light of new data, the agency now recognizes that...

Feb 28, 2017

Nearly Two-Thirds of Cancers Are Due to Random DNA 'Mistakes'

Cancer is caused by mistakes in DNA, and a new study finds that in most cancer cases, these mistakes are completely random; they're not due to heredity or environmental factors, but rather the result of random errors. The mistakes, or mutations, cause cancer to happen because even a tiny error...

Feb 28, 2017

Why One Woman Had Oil in Her Lung for Decades

An elderly woman in Florida had oil in her lungs — for decades — from a now-outdated procedure she received in her 20s to treat tuberculosis (TB), according to a new report of the woman's case. The 86-year-old woman went to the doctor because of a burning pain in her...

Feb 28, 2017

Why Breathing Deeply Helps You Calm Down

Deep breaths can settle your nerves, and now scientists have discovered the neural pathway in the brain that controls this process. In an experiment on mice, scientists identified a circuit of neurons — a tiny cluster of a mere 350 nerve cells, among millions in the mouse brain — that...

Jan 31, 2017

Here's Why Synthetic Marijuana Isn't Safe

Synthetic marijuana compounds, sometimes called K2 or Spice, are actually chemically different from marijuana, and are more dangerous than pot, according to a new review of studies. Synthetic marijuana compounds are linked to a number of serious side effects, including seizures, psychosis and even death, the review's authors said. These...

Jan 31, 2017

How Good Posture May Help with Depression Symptoms

People with symptoms of depression may see temporary improvements to their mood by following the age-old advice to sit up straight, a new study from New Zealand suggests. However, the researchers cautioned that the findings are preliminary; it's not yet known whether an upright posture could actually aid in treating...

Jan 31, 2017

Super Bowl 2017: Is a Turf or Grass Field Riskier for Players?

This Sunday, the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons will face off in the Super Bowl, battling for the championship on a turf field at Houston's NRG Stadium. Does the field's surface type — grass or turf — affect players' injury rates? One of the benefits of artificial turf...

Jan 31, 2017

Immunotherapy: Could the Human Body Be Trained to Fight Cancer?

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. The human immune system is powerful and complex. It can identify and destroy invaders of nearly infinite variety, yet spare the more than 30 trillion cells of the healthy...

Jan 31, 2017

Why Exercise Is Not Enough to Prevent Weight Gain

Exercise on its own — without also following a healthy diet — isn't enough to help people lose or even just maintain their weight, a recent study suggests. The new results run counter to the idea that the obesity epidemic in the U.S. is caused by a lack of physical...

Jan 31, 2017

Climate Change Is Transforming the World's Food Supply

ATLANTA — Climate change is poised to affect the world's food supply in three key ways, experts say. There will be impacts on the quantity, quality and location of the food we produce, said Dr. Sam Myers, a medical doctor and senior research scientist studying environmental health at the Harvard...

Jan 31, 2017

Beyoncé Cancels Gig: What Work Is Safe in Pregnancy?

Singer Beyoncé has cancelled her performance at the upcoming Coachella festival in April because she is pregnant. But how much work is safe during pregnancy, and what kind of work is risky? In early January, Coachella organizers announced that Beyoncé would be one of the festival's headline performers. But several...

Jan 31, 2017

Are viruses alive?

Viruses are infectious, tiny and nasty. But are they alive? Not really, although it depends on what your definition of alive is, two infectious disease doctors told Live Science. Living beings, such as plants and animals, contain cellular machinery that allows them to self-replicate. In contrast, viruses are free forms...