Latest articles by Christopher Wanjek
Magnets Might 'Unlock' Paralyzed Arm After Stroke
New research may offer a glimmer of hope for people with one common stroke symptom: partial arm paralysis that leaves the affected limb frozen to the person's side like a broken wing.
Poop Goes Mainstream: Fecal Transplants Get Past the 'Ick'
The fecal transplant is poised to become a mainstream practice, researchers say.
Ground Control to 'The Martian': Good Luck with Them Potatoes
Can you really grow and survive on potatoes on Mars, as in the movie "The Martian"?
Are Healthy School Lunch Programs a Waste?
Are kids really throwing out the healthy foods that schools are now offering, a critics of school lunch programs claim?
Vaccines May Protect Kids Against Strokes, Too
Scientists have found yet another reason to vaccinate their children: Keeping up with immunizations may reduce the risk of childhood stroke, according to a new study.
Common Brain Tumor More Likely in Obese People
Obesity is associated with a 54 percent increase in the risk of developing a common type of brain tumor, researchers say.
Children's Hormone Treatments May Have Planted Alzheimer's Seeds
Children's hormone treatments may have spread a protein linked with Alzheimer's disease, according to a small new study.
Deadly Parasite Could Be Zapped Like a Cancer Cell
One of the deadliest parasites in the world, the ameba Entamoeba histolytica, could be treated by targeting the human genes that allow the parasite to cause disease, researchers say.
'Lego-Stacking' Technique Could Help Scientists Grow Human Organs
By stacking up cells like Legos, scientists have found a new way to produce human tissues in the lab.
'Science of Mom': Author Sifts Through Childrearing Facts & Fictions
New mom and scientist Alice Callahan teaches other parents how to interpret studies on childrearing so that they can make informed decisions.
Breast-Fed Babies Show Buildup of Potentially Harmful Chemical
Babies who are breastfed can build up worrying levels of a potentially harmful class of industrial chemicals, a new study finds.
Obamacare, Nixoncare: Health Care Debates Are All About Politics
Health care debates are more about politics than a rational discussion to improve people's health, according to researchers who examined arguments made over the last 40 years.
Should Placebos Be Used to 'Treat' Patients?
Placebos can make people feel better, so why not use them?
Sugary Drinks Kill 184,000 People Every Year
Sugary drinks cause 184,000 deaths worldwide annually, including 25,000 deaths in the United States, according to a new study.
Unhealthy Data? US Dietary Guidelines Criticized
The U.S. dietary recommendations are based largely on data that is enormously flawed, a provocative article says. But other researchers dispute this.
Can Chocolate Really Benefit Your Heart?
Chocolate is good for your heart — sort of, maybe.
Blood Pressure Vaccine Moves One Step Closer
An experimental vaccine aims at keeping blood pressure low for several months, research say.
Vegan Diet Eases Nerve Pain of Diabetes
For people with diabetes, switching to a plant-based diet may ease nerve pain associated, according to a new study.
Pausing Puberty with Hormone Blockers May Help Transgender Kids
Going through puberty is hard for transgender kids, but hormone blockers can delay puberty while both the youth and the parents decide the best path forward.
Even a Little Walking Can Improve Your Health, Study Suggests
People who walk for just 30 minutes daily benefit from it, a new study finds.
New Advice on What To Do About Seizures
WASHINGTON — One out of 10 people will experience a seizure at some point in life, but most will never have second episode, so it's hard to say which patients should start taking medication.
Are Health Apps Harmful or Helpful? Experts Debate
Health apps are everywhere, but do they do more harm than good? Doctors are debating whether such self-monitoring mobile technology is useless — or even dangerous.
