| Date |
Show
Title |
Description |
| Dec. 26 |
Public
Health Roundup |
Flu Season
hit the U.S. early and especially hard this year. Preparing
for future flu outbreaks won't be easy, researchers say, unless
countries around the world work together to tackle the problem. |
| Dec. 22 |
New
Soybeans |
Trans fats,
found in many processed foods, increase the risk of heart disease
and diabetes. Now, companies are testing a new oil that could
make their products trans-fat-free. |
| Dec. 19 |
Muscle
Roundup |
A new study
shows that steroids can have lasting effects on a teenager's
brain. Also, a newly-discovered compound helps regenerate damaged
muscle. |
| Dec. 15 |
Naked
Mole-Rats |
Scientists
have found a new tool for studying a chronic pain disorder called
fibromyalgia: the naked mole-rat. |
| Dec. 5 |
Alcohol
and Accents |
A new study
suggests that a sweet tooth can put a person at-risk for alcoholism,
and another report documents the case of a stroke victim who
began to speak with a voice not her own. |
| Nov. 28 |
Brain-Body
Roundup |
Do you
pedal an exercise bike while reading a magazine? Or trot on
a treadmill in front of the television? If you want to make
progress, you'll have to engage your brain as well as your body. |
| Nov. 14 |
Genes
Roundup |
The study
of disease-causing genes is helping researchers develop new
ways to diagnose and fight a growing number of illnesses. We
tell you about two new studies: one concerning cancer, and the
other, a mental disorder. |
| Nov. 5 |
Herpes
Vaccine |
Infection
with the herpes virus has become extremely common, afflicting
tens of millions of Americans. Today we tell you about a new
herpes vaccine now undergoing clinical trials. |
| Nov. 4 |
Vibrating
Insoles |
For the
elderly, falling is the leading cause of death due to injury.
Now, a biomedical engineer is studying how vibrations can help
seniors keep their balance. |
| Oct. 31 |
Forgive
and Reject |
Getting
a rejection letter can feel as horrible as a punch in the gut.
A new study shows that that pain really does have a physical
basis. Listen to that story and another on why forgiveness can
be good for you. |
| Oct. 29 |
HIV
Hibernation |
Viruses
are stealthy -- none more so than HIV, the virus that causes
AIDS. It hids in the body's immune system, ensuring that a person
infected with HIV will have to take medications for the rest
of his or her life. But one group of scientists thinks it may
have a way to flush the virus out of a person's body for good. |
| Oct. 24 |
Birdbrain
Roundup |
Being called
a birdbrain is no compliment. But according to a new study,
learning about the bird brain could give important insights
into the human one. |
| Oct. 23 |
Hot
Pepper Receptor |
The classic
symptom of a heart attack is a feeling of intense pressure.
Now, a new study explains the source of this heart attack pain. |
| Oct. 20 |
Personalized
Smell |
Although
the Declaration of Independence asserts that all of us are created
equal, our noses are not. Now scientists know why. |
| Oct. 10 |
Pain
Roundup II |
Forget
aspirin or ibuprofen. When you exercise, the best pain reliever
might be found at your local Starbucks. We have that story and
another on how music can make childbirth a less stressful experience.
|
| Oct. 6 |
One-Shot
Flu Shot |
A flu vaccine
that can be given as a nasal spray instead of as an injection
has found its way into doctors' offices this season. But it
still offers only temporary protection. But scientists are now
attempting to make a new vaccine that will prevent the flu for
years to come. |
| Sept. 26 |
Fitness
Roundup |
It sounds
too good to be true: exercising from the comfort of your favorite
easy chair. But one company is proposing that we do just that.
Here's why the gym of the future might look more like a La-Z-Boy
showroom. |
| Sept. 25 |
Flu
Evolution |
As October
approaches, public health officials start reminding everyone
to get his or her annual flu shots. And each year, those officials
have to guess which flu strains will predominate, so the vaccine
can be reformulated to protect against those strains. A new
study could help make that practice obsolete. |
| Sept. 23 |
Optical
Biopsies |
In general,
the earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.
Now, researchers are developing a new technology that can instantly
identify tumors. |
| Sept. 22 |
Anthrax
Signaling |
Two years
ago, letters containing deadly anthrax bacteria were mailed
to news organizations and members of Congress. As a result,
doctors put thousands of people on antibiotics in case they
had been exposed. Scientists continue to learn more about how
the anthrax bacterium works, which may one day lead to better
treatments. |
| Sept. 19 |
Life
Span Roundup |
To prevent
cavities and gum disease, dentists recommend that everyone --
young and old -- brush, floss, and get regular checkups. A new
study suggests that pregnant women, especially, should practice
good dental hygiene. |
| Sept. 17 |
Plaques
and Tangles |
Doctors
often have a hard time telling whether a forgetful patient has
Alzheimer's disease or another form of memory loss. A definitive
diagnosis of Alzheimer's can only be made by looking at a person's
brain after death. Hear the latest findings on how this disease
progresses. |
| Sept. 16 |
Infectious
Phages |
Before
antibiotics, doctors treated bacterial infections with viruses
called phages. It was thought these phages only struck bacteria,
and wouldn't make people sick. But new research reveals that's
not the case. |
| Sept. 12 |
Optimism
Roundup |
One old-time
song encouraged people to "Keep on the Sunny Side of Life."
Now research is showing that that's good advice. Find out how
an upbeat attitude can keep you healthy. |
| Sept. 10 |
Phage
Comeback |
Overprescription
and misuse of antibiotics have fueled the rise of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria. That's why researchers are looking to the past for
future alternatives. |
| Sept. 9 |
Mice
Mothers |
Pregnant
women generally take vitamin supplements to ensure their growing
baby gets all the necessary nutrients. Now, researchers are
delving into what roles some of these nutrients play in a baby's
development. |
| Sept. 3 |
Eye
Movement |
By the
time a severe mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
is diagnosed, the patient has experienced debilitating and sometimes
terrifying symptoms, and has probably suffered major damage
to his or her life, job, family, and personal relationships.
But a simple eye test may someday identify and spare people
who are predisposed to conditions like these. |
| Aug. 25 |
Ferret
Protein |
In science,
sometimes two very different lines of research come together
in unusual ways. Today we tell you about the latest example
of this: a study into the reproductive system of the ferret
is yielding important insights into human disease. |
| Aug. 22 |
Easy
Health Roundup |
Go to any
supermarket, and you'll see the myriad variety of snack foods
for sale -- ranging from popcorn to crackers, cookies to cupcakes.
Now, scientists have found that one kind of snack food is actually
good for you. We have that story and other painless ways to
get healthier. |
| Aug. 15 |
Pain
Roundup |
For years,
scientists have been working on finding treatments for cancer,
arthritis, and other debilitating diseases. But just as important
is getting treatment for the pain that often accompanies such
conditions. By learning more about the body's own mechanisms
for controlling pain, researchers are trying to find ways to
take advantage of them. |
| Aug. 13 |
Born
for Strokes |
Some of
the most crucial development in the human body happens before
birth. That's why it's so important for pregnant women to stay
healthy and eat right. A recent study connects health in the
womb to health at age fifty and beyond. |
| July 25 |
New
Brain Research |
Genes play
a role in many physical disorders and diseases. But now, studies
are showing they even have an influence on psychological illnesses. |
| July 16 |
Alcohol
Injuries |
Drinking
slows your reflexes and impairs your judgement, making it a
dangerous thing to do before driving. But new research suggests
that even people who have a designated driver might want to
think twice before getting into a car. |
| July 14 |
Cancer
Vaccine |
Vaccines
are normally used to prep the immune system to fight off foreign
invaders, like viruses. But now, doctors are testing whether
a vaccine can help the body kill an invader from within. |
| July 9 |
Ulcer
Vaccine |
Scientists
have developed vaccines against many viruses and bacteria --
like polio, smallpox, the flu, and pneumonia, to name a few.
Now, one group has created a vaccine against the bacterium that
causes ulcers. |
| July 8 |
Inheriting
Diabetes |
Diabetes
is a disorder of the body's metabolism, affecting the way cells
use sugar for energy. It can cause a host of complications,
including blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. One listener
wants to know who's at risk for getting the disease. |
| July 1 |
Malaria
Supplement |
Malaria
is a deadly, mosquito-borne disease that's as prevalent in some
countries as the common cold is in the United States. A new
study shows why the disease makes some people sicker than others,
and what can be done about it. |
| June 18 |
Drug
Cravings |
Many drug
users successfully break their habit in rehab only to resume
abusing drugs once they reenter the real world. Now basic research
in rats reveals why staying off drugs can be so difficult. |
| June 13 |
Eco-Disease
Roundup |
The threat
of bioterrorism has been on many people's minds lately, but
the recent outbreak of SARS shows that sometimes, nature has
an agenda of its own. New infectious diseases often originate
from animals -- ones in the wild, as well as those kept as pets
or raised for food. |
| June 6 |
Disease
Roundup |
Severe
acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, has been grabbing headlines
lately. But around the world, malaria claims more lives in one
day than the entire SARS epidemic has so far. A new study explains
that the difficulty in combating malaria lies not in medicine,
but in money. We have that story, plus another on a promising
new treatment for brain cancer. |
| May 28 |
Peptide
Painkillers |
Morphine
is an important tool doctors use to manage chronic pain in their
patients. But it's also a narcotic, in the same class of drugs
as opium and heroin. Now, scientists have created a new painkiller
that could be safer and even more effective than morphine. |
| May 16 |
Tea
Roundup |
For many
people, coffee is their brew of choice -- for others, it's tea.
Now, two studies are adding to the evidence that tea's not only
tasty, it's good for your health. |
| May 14 |
Prescription
Contacts |
Eye conditions
like glaucoma and conjunctivitis are often treated with eye
drops. But putting drops in the eye can be difficult for some
people, and a lot of the medicine can be wasted or washed away.
That's why researchers are working on an alternative delivery
method. |
| May 12 |
Cancer
Migration Gene |
One of
the big challenges of developing a cancer drug is finding one
that targets tumors, but leaves healthy cells alone. One group
of researchers is trying to achieve this by focusing on the
unique way in which cancer cells move, and the team may be on
track to finding ways to stop cancer cells in their tracks. |
| May 9 |
Food
and Drink |
Cruciferous
vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower contain lots of cancer-fighting
compounds. But many people avoid them because they don't like
the taste. Now, one company has a solution that could make it
easier for these people to eat their veggies. |
| May 5 |
Blood
Stem Cells |
When someone
needs a new heart or kidney, the only way to get a replacement
is through an organ donor. But even with a well-matched organ,
there's always the possibility of rejection. That's why scientists
are working on ways to grow replacement tissue from the patient's
own cells. A new study shows exactly where these cells might
come from. |
| May 2 |
Brain
Roundup |
The silicon
microchip is the brain of any computer, doing billions of calculations
in the blink of an eye. Now, researchers are hoping microchips
can help real brains, by replacing parts that have been damaged
by disease or injury. |
| April 29 |
Supertaster's
Health |
Some people
can't stand broccoli, while for others, it's their favorite
vegetable. These differences are due partly to how our tongues
react to bitter tastes. Now, researchers are finding that these
food preferences can have a profound effect on health. |
| April 25 |
Bug
Drug Roundup |
Most drugs
nowadays are synthesized in the lab. But many of those medicines
originally came from things found in nature. Tune in to find
out about three new drugs from three unlikely sources. |
| April 15 |
The
Pill Question |
Birth control
pills are prescribed to prevent pregnancy, clear up acne, and
regulate a woman's menstrual cycle. But one listener wondered
if long-time pill use has yet another benefit -- increasing
fertility later in life. |
| April 14 |
Caffeine
Anxiety |
Caffeine
is found in lots of different foods: coffee, tea, cola -- even
chocolate. It's considered safe to use as a stimulant, but it
can make some people panicky. Now new research is looking into
caffeine's anxiety-producing effect. |
| April 7 |
Brain
Fitness |
Many studies
have found that the elderly can stay mentally sharp by challenging
their brains. Those who engage in activities like doing crossword
puzzles or taking college classes tend to do better on tests
of mental acuity. Now we hear about another way for older people
to keep their minds in shape. |
| April 4 |
Sleep
Roundup |
According
to a new study, burning the midnight oil might make you burn
out without even knowing it. In this week's roundup of science
news, we have two stories about the dangers of sleep deprivation. |
| April 3 |
Blood
Types |
Recently,
a young girl who received a heart transplant died because the
donated organ wasn't compatible with her blood type. Her body
rejected the heart, and the damage caused by the doctors' mistake
was irreversible. The incident prompted one listener to ask
why people have different blood types at all. |
| April 2 |
Feeling
Pain |
In women,
the hormone estrogen is responsible for ovulation and directing
the development of female characteristics. But it also has many
other functions in the body, including building bone and maintaining
cardiovascular health. Now researchers have found that it also
plays a role in blocking pain. |
| March 26 |
Montezuma's
Revenge |
Colorectal
cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S., and about
50,000 Americans die from it each year. A new study shows that
doctors might one day be able to enlist an unusual ally in the
fight against this deadly disease. |
| March 19 |
Lyme
Disease Risk |
It used
to be that only hikers and campers in certain states had to
worry about lyme disease, but that's not true anymore. Scientists
worry that it could show up in parts of the country where it
hasn't been seen before. Now new research shows why the disease
is spreading and how it can be stopped. |
| March 14 |
Weight
Loss Roundup |
Obesity
increases the risk of many diseases, making it one of our nation's
top health problems. But new research offers encouragement for
those trying to shed the extra pounds. |
| March 10 |
Ebola
Therapy |
The deadly
Ebola virus is highly contagious, which is why scientists studying
it have to wear protective clothing and do all their work in
extra-secure labs. But now, researchers ahve found that a component
of the Ebola virus could be used to treat disease instead of
cause it. |
| March 5 |
Work
or Warmth |
Eating
too much and not getting enough exercise contribute a lot to
determining the size of our waistlines. But the fundamental
way in which our cells burn energy also plays a big role. New
evidence shows that that ability is inherited from our ancestors. |
| Feb. 28 |
Nature's
Remedies |
For years,
researchers have been mining the natural world for new drugs,
searching for unusual compounds in the soil of rainforests or
inside the geysers at Yellowstone. Now, scientists have found
some promising compounds on the sea floor. |
| Feb. 21 |
Tiny
Tech Roundup |
Very few
doctors make house calls nowadays, but a new device could help
doctors monitor their patients at home. |
| Feb. 19 |
Allergen-Free
Shrimp |
Many food
crops like tomatoes, corn, and soybeans have been genetically
modified in some way -- perhaps to have greater yields, or to
be more nutritious, or more resistant to pests. Now, some scientists
want to use genetic engineering to make shrimp safer to eat. |
| Feb. 18 |
Genetic
Enhancement |
Some athletes
will do anything to improve their game -- even illegal things
like taking performance-enhancing drugs. Today, scientists are
meeting to discuss whether a new medical advance could also
be misused in sports. |
| Feb. 12 |
Anthrax
vs. Cancer |
The anthrax
letter attacks that happened a year and a half ago remain unsolved,
but they showed that anthrax could indeed be used as a bioterrorist
weapon. One group of scientists, however, is harnessing the
bacterium to help save lives rather than take them. |
| Feb. 10 |
Pain
Sensitivity |
Anyone
who's ever witnessed a child being born knows that women are
no wimps when it comes to withstanding pain. Women actually
feel pain differently than men do, but scientists have never
understood exactly why. But new results are moving researchers
closer to an explanation. |
| Feb. 6 |
Vitamin
C Origin |
Strawberries
taste great in pies, on cakes, and in ice cream -- and pack
a lot of vitamins to boot. Now, scientists are seeing if strawberries
can make other fruits and vegetables more nutritious. |
| Jan. 10 |
Healthy
Living |
Eating
a proper diet and getting plenty of exercise are important to
good health. But it's hard when restaurants dole out huge portions,
and people's busy schedules don't leave time for working out.
However, studies are showing that simple changes can make a
big difference. |
| Jan. 6 |
Exercise
Gene |
Many people
make a New Year's resolution to get in shape after the holidays.
But some simply can't find the motivation to get up off the
couch and head to the gym. Now, a new study suggests there might
be a genetic basis for that reluctance to exercise. |
