Want Perfect Pitch? You Might Be Able To Pop A Pill For That
A Harvard study says a drug normally used as a mood stabilizer might allow adults with no musical experience to learn perfect pitch.
Humans
Treating Kids' Cancer With Science And A Pocket Full Of Hope
Lessons in optimism from very ill children inspire pediatric oncologist Jim Olson in his hunt for better treatments for brain tumors.
Robotic Exoskeleton Helps Get Vets Back On Their Feet
Several bio-tech companies are developing exoskeletons that give people superhuman abilities. But these robotic suits are also doing something simpler: They're helping paralyzed veterans walk again.
Risks Of Popular Anxiety Drugs Often Overshadowed
Benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the U.S. Patients and addicts often mix them with prescription painkillers — sometimes to deadly effect.
Modern Medicine May Not Be Doing Your Microbiome Any Favors
In Missing Microbes, Dr. Martin Blaser argues that the overuse of antibiotics, as well as now-common practices like C-sections, may be messing with gut microbes.
Gene Linked To Alzheimer's Poses A Special Threat To Women
Scientists have figured out one reason women might be more vulnerable to Alzheimer's: A risk gene doubles women's chances of getting the disease but has minimal effect on men.
A Peek Beneath A Mummy's Wrappers, Powered By CT Scanners
John Taylor, the curator at the British Museum, discusses how CT scans and imaging are used to discover information about mummies.
Play It Again And Again, Sam
We're all seduced by repetition, music research suggests — 90 percent of the music we listen to, we've heard before. Beyond music, this bias toward familiarity holds up in every culture. What gives?
The Forgotten Childhood: Why Early Memories Fade
Childhood amnesia descends gradually — and later than you might think, researchers say. Many 7-year-olds have robust memories of experiences from when they were 3 or even younger.
One More Speed Bump For Your Retirement Fund: Basic Human Impulse
Basic human impulses often conflict with saving for retirement. For one thing, people hate losing something — even more than we love winning. Behavioral economists call this "loss aversion."