Latest articles by Christopher Wanjek
What are superfoods?
So-called "superfoods" may have health benefits, but no more than other nutritionally dense foods.
The Science Behind the Cell Phone Cancer Scare
Do cell phones cause cancer? Studies can't find a link, but fear remains.
The Truth About Cell Phones and Cancer
There is no plausible biological or physical reasoning for why it cell phones would cause cancer.
When Health Food Is Unhealthy
Nuts, seeds, and fruits are generally healthy but, like many health foods, they can pack a lot of calories.
Dietary Supplements Instill Illusion of Invincibility
The bad news? There's no proof that vitamins are a magic bullet.
Dietary Supplements: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Americans are spending $23 billion a year on them, and the National Institutes of Health thinks that might be about $22.99 billion too much.
Skin microbes betray your age
Scientists have found that the profile of the microbes on your skin can predict your chronological age to within a few years.
Take That Back: The Top Scientific Retractions of 2019
This past year was rich in scientific retractions of papers filled with poor processes and, in many cases, blatant fabrications.
Barefoot Walking Gives You Calluses That Are Even Better for Your Feet Than Shoes, Study Suggests
Foot calluses have evolved to protect the feet and provide comfort in perhaps ways that shoes can't match, a new study says.
Scott Kelly's Year in Space May Have Aged Him — But He's Mostly Fine
How a year in space affected Scott Kelly's health.
Being a Night Owl Really Can Hurt Your Mental Health
Morning people have a lower risk for depression and other mental health concerns compared with night owls, but your natural sleeping pattern is strongly controlled by genes, a study finds.
The Real Fake News: Top Scientific Retractions of 2018
From unintentional irony to flat-out fraud, it has been another banner year for scientific retractions. Here are five notable ones.
Men Who Smoke Pot May Have Lower Sperm Count
Recreational marijuana use is becoming increasingly legal across the U.S., but that doesn't mean that it's safe.
Babies Create a Mental Map of Their Body Before They Ever Leave the Womb
Those kicks and jabs help your baby build an information superhighway while still in the womb.
Salmonella Hides Its Tail to Stay Invisible to Immune System
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone to say something good about Salmonella...
Brain Cancer's 'Immortality Switch' Turned Off with CRISPR
Researchers have found a way to short-circuit the "immortality switch" that cancer cells use to divide indefinitely.
How Close Are We, Really, to Curing Cancer with CRISPR?
The promise of CRISPR is being realized today in the lab through the creation of special animal models and cell lines. And the technology is finally entering the clinic to treat humans directly.
Could Aspirin Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease? Mouse Study Says Maybe.
Scientists have found how aspirin might help prevent Alzheimer's disease by helping cells clear the debris that leads to amyloid plaque formation.
Here's How Much Exercise You Need to Give Your Brain a Boost
Any physical exercise will improve thinking, as long as you do it somewhat consistently and stick with it long enough, according to an analysis of 98 previous studies.
Game-Changing Study Finds Dozens of Genes Tied to Depression
The finding may explain why antidepressant therapies work well for some people but are utterly ineffective for others.
