What Babies Understand About Adult Sadness
Babies may show greater empathy toward adults who overtly show sadness, a study suggests, but the little ones also recognize sadness in people who keep a stiff upper lip.
Humans
As MERS Outbreak Surges, Genetic Tests Show Virus Hasn't Mutated
So the spread of the Middle East respiratory syndrome in South Korea is probably due to other factors, such as a delayed response to the outbreak and poor infection control at hospitals.
Should Tanning Bed Warnings Take A Cue From Graphic Cigarette Labels?
Graphic images showing the effects of melanoma, combined with photos promoting the positives of avoiding indoor tanning, were more persuasive than standard text warnings.
Data Dive Suggests Link Between Heartburn Drugs And Heart Attacks
The drugs are proton-pump inhibitors, including Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid. But the study doesn't show cause and effect. Other factors — diet, drink or tobacco — may play a role.
More Evidence That Parents' Ages Could Influence Autism Risk
A large, international study found that kids born to older parents had higher rates of autism. Having a teen mom or parents with a large gap between their ages also increased the autism odds.
Costs Of Slipshod Research Methods May Be In The Billions
Up to half of all results from biomedical research laboratories these days can't be replicated by other science teams. Why not? Myriad flubs slow progress in the hunt for cures.
Do Creativity And Schizophrenia Share A Small Genetic Link? Maybe
The notion goes back to the ancients — that minds given to flights of fancy are on the healthy side of a spectrum that includes what we today call psychosis. An Icelandic gene study offers new clues.
To Beat Insomnia, Try Therapy For The Underlying Cause Instead Of Pills
A review of the medical evidence finds that therapy can break the cycle of chronic sleeplessness by addressing the anxieties that cause many people to stay awake.
How Many Viruses Have Infected You?
Most tests for viruses aim to detect only one or two. But researchers can now check a drop of blood for antibodies to hundreds of viruses, tracing the history of a lifetime of infections, old and new.
Are The Vaccine Court's Requirements Too Strict?
Before awarding compensation, the court wants a "preponderance of evidence" that a vaccine caused the injury. Some years, the nearly $4 billion fund earns more interest than it pays out in claims.