Humans

Each time a particular finger on a robotic hand is touched, a blindfolded Nathan Copeland "feels" as if his own finger were being touched, thanks to a brain implant. That sort of sensory feedback could help him hold a fragile object without crushing it.

Brain Implant Restores Sense Of Touch To Paralyzed Man

4:35pm October 13, 2016

by Jon Hamilton

A mind-controlled robotic arm has pressure sensors in each fingertip that send signals directly to a paralyzed man's brain. It's still experimental, but could eventually help thousands, engineers say.

Since a single scientific study rarely provides a definitive answer, researchers combine the results of several studies to reach clearer conclusions.

Reviews Of Medical Studies May Be Tainted By Funders' Influence

4:33pm October 12, 2016

by Richard Harris

Researchers often combine the results of many medical studies to evaluate treatments. But when the combiners have a financial interest, the results might be inaccurate, a scientist says.

How The 'Cannabis Catch-22' Keeps Marijuana Classified As A Harmful Drug

4:18pm October 12, 2016

Author John Hudak says federal law makes it hard to prove the medicinal value of marijuana. "As a Schedule 1 drug, it is very difficult to do research on the plant," he explains.

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Austin Beggin (left) and Tim Flynn. Both men suffered neck injuries that left them paralyzed.

After Paralysis, A Life Of 'A Different 10,000 Things'

6:22pm October 11, 2016

Austin Beggin was paralyzed in a freak accident last year and wonders what's next. He gets some answers from Tim Flynn, who has been paralyzed for 35 years. One tip: start looking forward.

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A doodle depicting some of the icons in the history of pencils.

Trace The Remarkable History Of The Humble Pencil

2:57pm October 11, 2016

The classroom writing implement has roots in exploding stars, the French Revolution, the British crown jewels and Walden Pond.

In the first months of life, there are 700 new synapses formed in the brain every second. Nurturing — or the lack of nurturing — in these months can have lifelong effects.

A Pediatrician's View Of Paid Parental Leave

6:55pm October 10, 2016

by NPR Staff

Paternity leave can make a big difference in a dad's long-term engagement with the child, doctors find. Paid family leave also fosters breastfeeding and reduces the incidence of maternal depression.

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Sure, keeping a teenager's thoughts corralled may seem like lion taming. But that impulsivity may help them learn, too.

Teens' Penchant For Risk-Taking May Help Them Learn Faster

5:25pm October 06, 2016

by Erin Ross

The impulsivity and risk-taking that are common among teenagers may be a side effect of having a brain tuned to learn a lot of new stuff fast, researchers say. So it could be good in the long run.

Florida Department of Health workers at a temporary clinic set up in Miami Beach in September package up a urine sample to be tested for the Zika virus. Pregnant women in Texas and Florida have complained it can take as long as a month or more to get thei

Public Health Labs Hope Federal Funds Will Speed Zika Test Results

2:01pm October 06, 2016

by Shefali Luthra

But they'll have to wait a while. The portion of the $394 million Congress allocated to help pregnant women find out more quickly if they have Zika isn't expected to get to strained labs until 2017.

A number of states recently have dedicated more money to educating women and health care providers about the 99 percent effectiveness of long-acting, reversible forms of contraception, like the intrauterine device, or IUD — shown here.

Long-Term, Reversible Contraception Gains Traction With Young Women

10:28am October 06, 2016

by Michael Tomsic

Implants and intrauterine devices are endorsed by pediatricians, OB-GYNs and health officials as a way to help girls and women space their pregnancies and reduce the risk of having a premature baby.

A researcher says the typical maximum human life span may have peaked at around 115 years, despite medical advances.

Has The Human Life Span Hit The Ceiling?

4:37pm October 05, 2016

by Rob Stein

An analysis of global demographics indicates the maximum human life span may have peaked at around 115 years. That's despite medical advances and the occasional person who lives a few years longer.