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Close-up picture of a Tibetan woman looking into the distance. She is carrying a baby in a shawl on her back. The background of the image is blurry.
Natural selection is unfolding right now in these remote villages in Nepal Physiological traits that help Tibetan women survive at high altitudes are being selected for within the population, meaning they may be becoming more common, new research hints.
A close-up of chickens in an industrial farm
Bird flu could become deadlier if it mixes with seasonal flu viruses, experts warn As of now, 17 states have reported H5N1 bird flu cases in humans, but there is still no evidence for transmission between people. Could that change?
photo of a woman's hands holding a large table-top alarm clock and adjusting the time
The case against daylight saving, from a neurologist and sleep expert While that "extra" hour of sunlight in the evenings can be exhilarating, it comes with significant health trade-offs.

Latest about Health

An illustration of organelles within a cell

Rogue 'organs' inside cells may hold secrets of the origin of life on Earth

By Allan Albig published

Membraneless organelles, also called biomolecular condensates, are changing how scientists think about protein chemistry, various diseases and even the origin of life.

Health
Female doctor and a female patient during a mammogram.

BRCA only explains a fraction of breast cancers — genes tied to metabolism may also up risk

By Emily Cooke published

Scientists pinpointed 80 gene variants, including eight tied to fatty acid metabolism, that may cause breast cancer in some people, new research suggests.

Cancer
A woman's feet are shown standing on weighing scales that are placed on a wooden floor. She is wearing black leggings and nothing on her feet.

How does the brain regulate body weight?

By Holly Barker last updated

An almond-shaped structure deep in the brain controls people's feelings of hunger and fullness in an attempt to keep them at a constant body weight. In obesity, its signaling can be disrupted.

Health
Woman is shown eating a burger. She is looking into the distance. The background is blurry.

These 3 neurons may underlie the drive to eat food

By Emily Cooke published

A brain circuit made up of three types of neurons may regulate appetite, a mouse study finds.

Neuroscience
A still from the movie "Awakenings"

What really caused encephalitis lethargica, the mysterious disease described in the movie 'Awakenings'?

By Jonathan Rogers published

Revisiting a disease that affected a million people might provide answers we need for the future.

Neuroscience
A microscope image showing strangely shaped cells stained in pink

Can viruses cause cancer?

By Marilyn Perkins published

The far-reaching impact of certain viruses on the body can make cells grow out of control, causing cancer.

Viruses, Infections & Disease
Close-up picture of a Tibetan woman looking into the distance. She is carrying a baby in a shawl on her back. The background of the image is blurry.

Natural selection is unfolding right now in these remote villages in Nepal

By Emily Cooke published

Physiological traits that help Tibetan women survive at high altitudes are being selected for within the population, meaning they may be becoming more common, new research hints.

Genetics
Closeup of black licorice candy

How does licorice interfere with medications?

By Clarissa Brincat published

Eating licorice regularly, in large quantities or with certain medications can cause serious side effects. But why is that?

Medicine & Drugs
An electron microscope image showing cells and their nuclei

In a 1st, scientists reversed type 1 diabetes by reprogramming a person's own fat cells

By Tia Ghose published

Scientists reprogrammed a woman's fat cells to become insulin-making beta cells, reversing her type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes
Illustration of neurons of the dorsal striatum of the brain. The neurons are shown in purple, pink and blue against a black background.

Trigger for deadly neurodegenerative disorder identified

By Emily Cooke published

The discovery of an important enzyme involved in Huntington's disease may pave the way for future treatments to prevent the condition, researchers say.

Neuroscience
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