The Human Body's Complicated Relationship With Fungi
Among the microbes that live in us and on us, bacteria have gotten most of the attention. Now scientists are exploring the fungi and their effects on health.
Medical Treatments
Doctors Unsure About How To Talk With Patients About End-Of-Life Care
Medicare now pays doctors $86 to discuss end-of-life care in an office visit that covers topics such as hospice, living wills and do-not-resuscitate orders. But how should doctors get a chat rolling?
When Parasites Could Be The Treatment Instead Of The Illness
A man's worm treatment in Thailand led researchers to test parasites for inflammatory bowel disease. Their ultimate goal is a remedy that would mimic what the worms do — without an infection.
Technology Helps A Paralyzed Man Transform Thought Into Movement
An implant and wires that reroute nerve signals from a man's brain to his hand allow him to grasp and lift objects, after much practice. But easy, wireless signaling from the brain is still the goal.
How LSD Makes Your Brain One With The Universe
Researchers are starting to look at the therapeutic possibilities of psychedelic drugs. A sensation that the self is merging with the world could be due to changes in brain connections, a study says.
For Native Americans, Health Care Is A Long, Hard Road Away
For American Indians on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota, getting health care can take weeks. Indians who move to the city find that access can be difficult, too.
Why It's Getting Harder To Decide When To Treat High Blood Pressure
Decisions about high blood pressure have gotten thornier over the past couple of years. There's no consensus on when to start treatment with drugs. The latest evidence adds to the confusion.
How Do 'Genetic Superheroes' Overcome Their Bad DNA?
Why do some people get sick from genetic mutations and others don't? Scientists say clues may lie in a rare group of people who carry profound genetic defects but somehow don't fall ill.
Just Like Human Skin, This Plastic Sheet Can Sense And Heal
Human skin has properties that are hard to mimic, but a Stanford engineer is working to create a type of artificial skin that can sense, heal and generate its own power.
Go To The Tape: A Cheap, Easy Way To Prevent Blisters
Ultramarathoners can train for years and still get sidelined by blisters. Stanford researchers tested paper surgical tape during a 155-mile race and found it reduces blisters by 40 percent.