Health & Medicine : Nature World News

Jan 22, 2015 02:44 PM EST

Is Ebola Driving Gorilla Extinction?

A year into West Africa's Ebola epidemic, the WHO has reported more than 7,500 deaths and nearly 20,000 confirmed cases among humans. And while it's understandable why the media has focused on these tragic numbers, some researchers are saying that we're missing something equally tragic: nearly a third of the world's gorillas and chimpanzees have died from Ebola since the 1990s.

Jan 21, 2015 05:31 PM EST

Organic Milk vs Regular: is There Any Difference?

If you were to walk into a grocery store and ask anyone in the dairy section which is more nutritious, organic or regular milk, they would likely tell you that organic is the safest bet. After all, that's why we pay more for organic products, right? Well now an independent team of researchers has found that we might actually be comparing apples to apples, where the differences between organic and conventional milks are far from Earth-shattering.

Jan 20, 2015 07:09 PM EST

Searching Soil for an Antibiotic Savior

Researchers from across the globe are on their hands and knees, digging through the dirt in search of something precious. But it's not gold, diamonds, or even oil that they are after - it's the next antibiotic.

Jan 20, 2015 04:54 PM EST

Sitting, Even with Exercise, Increases Risk of Disease, Early Death

Sitting for long periods of time, even with regular exercise, increases a person's risk of disease and early death, according to a recent study.

Jan 19, 2015 04:27 PM EST

Beet Juice May Benefit Athletes

Beet juice may hold some benefits for athletes that down it before exercising, by "de-stiffening" blood vessels under resting conditions, potentially easing the workload of the heart, a new study says.

Jan 18, 2015 03:41 PM EST

Humanity Threatens Seals With Bad Bacteria

Between MERS from camels and Ebola from bats (or gorillas), even everyday citizens are learning that deadly diseases jumping from animal to human - called zoonosis - is a lot more common than previously thought. Now a new study has revealed that just the reverse can happen, with a dangerous human pathogen somehow finding its way into gray seal colonies.

Jan 18, 2015 12:55 AM EST

Microscopic Motors Journey Though Mice

Micromachine medicine recently saw a small victory after a lab mouse's body was successfully navigated by a tiny team of microscopic motors. The machines in question delivered a small test cargo of gold nanoparticles into the lining of the subject's stomach, proving that these advanced medicinal delivery systems are very possible.

Jan 15, 2015 04:19 PM EST

Early Disease Screening Tests Don't Actually Save Lives?

Early disease screening tests, which are meant to detect diseases like cancer in asymptomatic adults, don't actually save lives, according to new research.

Jan 15, 2015 04:16 PM EST

Your Phone Contains Personal Contacts... And Lots of Bacteria

Your phone doesn't just make calls, text and contain your personal contacts, but it also houses lots of bacteria, according to a new study.

Jan 15, 2015 01:06 PM EST

Worms In Space Battle Bone and Muscle Loss

While it took some time and the sacrifice of a great many animals, humanity has become much better acquainted with the dangers of space and how to better keep explorers safe. However, there are still risks to long-term living in space that cannot be avoided, and it may be that roundworms will come to our astronauts' rescue.

Jan 14, 2015 05:20 PM EST

Workaholics More Likely to Consume Alcohol

Workaholics, that is, people who work more than 48 hours per week, are more likely to engage in risky alcohol consumption compared to employees who work standard hours, a new study says.

Jan 14, 2015 04:32 PM EST

Powerful Protein Promotes Flu Resistance Through Rest

Doctors have long known that when dealing with the flu, getting plenty of rest is very important. This, of course, is because your body's immune system needs a lot of energy to wage its helpful war. However, the discovery of a new type of protein in the brains of mice has revealed that there may be a bit more to it than that.

Jan 13, 2015 04:07 PM EST

Parasitic Infections Increase with Climate Change

Among the plethora of side effects caused by climate change, it is also threatening to increase parasitic infections, according to an analysis of ancient mollusk fossils.

Jan 12, 2015 09:37 PM EST

Allergy 'Danger Zone' Identified For Foods

Food allergies can be confusing and even frightening, especially if you happen to have a particularly sensitive allergy, such as many nut allergies. For decades many victims of these conditions have always played it safe, steering clear of "may contain traces of..." labels. But wouldn't it be nice if they knew at what concentrations an ingredient is a threat? Researchers may now know for sure.

Jan 12, 2015 06:13 PM EST

Do Viruses Make Us Smarter?

A new study indicated that inherited viruses that are millions of years old may make us smarter, playing an important part in building the complex networks that characterize the human brain.