Health & Medicine

  1. Health & Medicine

    The steady creep of less sleep

    More than half of all teens 15 and older get less than seven hours of sleep, according to a new study. That is two to three hours less than recommended. Overall, teens are sleeping less with each passing year, data show.

    By Andrew Bridges
  2. Health & Medicine

    When a part makes you whole

    New technologies allow medical experts to create remarkably detailed artificial faces. They can help restore the appearance — and the confidence and self-esteem — of patients who have suffered a disfiguring injury or disease.

    By Sid Perkins
  3. Health & Medicine

    Skip the soft drinks, period

    Beyond the quest for trim waistlines and cavity-free teeth, girls have another reason to shun sodas and other sweetened drinks. These beverages may help launch the body’s menstrual cycles at an earlier age.

    By Esther Landhuis
  4. Health & Medicine

    Teens exhibit a zeal to heal

    Broadcom MASTERS is the premier middle school science and engineering competition. Several 2014 finalists showed a flair for biomedicine. These young researchers tackled everything from diagnosing cancer early to alerting drowsy drivers before they fall asleep at the wheel.

    By Sid Perkins
  5. Brain

    Screen time can mess with the body’s ‘clock’

    Reading on an iPad in the evening can make it harder to fall asleep — and harder to wake up the next morning, a new study finds. The light from its screen tinkers with the body’s clock. And that could risk harming your health.

    By Andrew Bridges
  6. Health & Medicine

    U.S. outbreak of measles emerges

    The United States is experiencing an outbreak of measles. A traveler likely brought in the virus from abroad, which is now spreading. Most of those infected were never vaccinated and could now face serious health risks.

    By Andrew Bridges
  7. Health & Medicine

    10 things to know about measles

    Many people think that the measles vaccine wiped out the disease — at least in the United States. It hasn’t. And people who were never vaccinated face the primary risk of getting this very serious disease

    By Andrew Bridges
  8. Health & Medicine

    Most students wrong on risks of smoking occasionally

    Teens know that heavy smoking can seriously harm health. But most, a new study finds, don’t realize that smoking only now and then also is harmful. Data from a survey highlight teens’ mistaken ideas about the risks of intermittent smoking.

    By Science News Explores
  9. Genetics

    Immunity: Environment can have big impact

    A study on twins suggests that environmental factors can shape a person's immune system more than genes do.

    By Stephen Ornes
  10. Brain

    A new ‘spin’ on concussions

    Scientists have suspected that rotational forces in the brain may underlie concussions. A new study used athletic mouthguards containing sensors. Data on head movements during collisions suggest that a twisting of the brain may underlie mild brain injuries, including concussion.

    By Alison Pearce Stevens
  11. Health & Medicine

    Ongoing Ebola outbreak traced to hollow tree

    Scientists suspect the current Ebola outbreak started with bats that lived in a hollow tree in Guinea. The outbreak's first victim, a two-year-old boy, often played in the tree.

    By Stephen Ornes
  12. Health & Medicine

    New germ fighter turns up in dirt

    Scientists have found a compound in soil that can kill the microbes that cause anthrax, tuberculosis and other diseases.

    By Stephen Ornes