Health & Medicine
- Chemistry
Explainer: What is chirality?
Chiral molecules are mirror images of each other. They might not seem all that different — but can have drastically different effects in medicine, materials and more.
- Health & Medicine
Butt breathing might help people struggling to get enough oxygen
This strange investigation into whether humans can use the gut for breathing has surprisingly heartwarming origins: helping the scientist’s dad.
- Microbes
Let’s learn about viruses
Viruses cause a huge range of illnesses, but vaccines can help protect you against these infections.
- Health & Medicine
Recruits agreed to be buried face down in the snow, for science
A safety device helped maintain the buried person’s oxygen levels for a half hour or more, which might provide time for an avalanche rescue.
- Brain
Hypnosis isn’t magic. It’s the brain at work
While we still don’t know much about how hypnosis works, it appears to help some people conquer pain, anxiety and other problems.
- Health & Medicine
Air pollution might harm children’s eye health
Scientists used machine learning to understand air pollution’s role in eye health and vision. They found children have better eyesight in cleaner air conditions.
- Humans
Scientists Say: Chronohygiene
Artificial lights and other aspects of modern life can confuse our body’s internal sleep clock. But a few minor changes may grant us much-needed control.
- Health & Medicine
A little shape-up helps these pimple patches get a grip
These zit patches use some innovative geometry to anchor onto skin. This solves one problem that’s hindered other uses of microneedles for drug delivery.
- Tech
A modified glue gun squirts a material to help heal broken bones
The handheld printer might someday apply bone-repair patches directly onto fractures — complete with antibiotics to prevent infection.
- Science & Society
Behold the world’s weirdest library — which might save your life
This bizarre collection of “standard reference materials” help ensure the safety of waterways, buildings, medicines, foods and much more.
- Health & Medicine
What are vitamins?
Humans need 13 different vitamins to stay healthy. Most come from the food we eat. Others are made in our bodies.
- Psychology
Connections at school could limit bullying’s harm to mental health
Recently bullied teens with a strong sense of connectedness at school reported fewer signs of depression than those without it, a new study finds.
