Humans

  1. Health & Medicine

    Teen girls start drinking earlier than boys

    Teen girls now tend to take up drinking alcohol earlier than do boys, data show. Drinking-prevention programs, however, tend to focus on boys.

    By Sharon Oosthoek
  2. Health & Medicine

    Newly discovered microbe keeps teeth healthy

    A newfound bacterium halts the tooth erosion that leads to cavities. This germ or one like it might one day be added to toothpaste or mouthwash.

    By Kathryn Hulick
  3. Health & Medicine

    Focusing on one sport ups a teen’s risk of injury

    Want to decrease athletic injuries? Part of the answer may be to engage in more, and more varied, sports.

    By Jennifer L.W. Fink
  4. Chemistry

    Gotcha! New test stalks diseases early

    Chemists screen blood for disease markers by adapting a common DNA test. The test can find disease earlier, when it also may be easier to treat.

    By Esther Landhuis
  5. Health & Medicine

    Why Paralympic sprinters have trouble with curves

    Whether an artificial leg is on the right or left side of the body may affect how fast runners can take a turn.

    By Helen Thompson
  6. Genetics

    Pacific islanders got a double dose of Stone Age DNA

    Unlike other people, certain Pacific Islanders inherited DNA from two ancient human ‘cousins.’

    By Bruce Bower
  7. Brain

    Cool jobs: Brainy ways to battle obesity

    Scientists from different fields are tapping into connections between food and the brain to help people fight obesity and overcome the urge to overeat.

    By Kathiann Kowalski
  8. Earth

    Breathing very dirty air may boost obesity risk

    Breathing dirty Beijing air made rats heavier and less healthy than rats breathing clean air. Scientists now worry such polluted air may do the same thing to people.

    By Ashley Yeager
  9. Health & Medicine

    Eating breakfast — even twice — is truly the healthier choice

    Some experts argue that breakfast is the most important meal of the day — especially for keeping school-age kids at a healthy weight.

    By Elizabeth Grossman
  10. Brain

    ‘Mindfulness’ defuses stress in classrooms and teaching

    The science behind mindfulness shows that both teachers and students can benefit from a bit of focused attention.

    By Alison Pearce Stevens
  11. Health & Medicine

    From zits to warts: Which disturb people most?

    In a recent study, people rated acne as one of the most upsetting skin conditions. Many believed myths and misconceptions about zits.

    By Kathryn Hulick
  12. Animals

    Cool Jobs: Pet science

    Pets make great subjects for research. These scientists work to make our animals — and us — healthier and happier.

    By Sarah Zielinski