Research News

Probiotic Bacteria Could Protect Newborns From Deadly Infection

6:51pm August 16, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Each year more than 600,000 babies die of sepsis. Researchers have found a simple way to prevent it: Feed babies probiotic bacteria that are common in kimchi, pickles and other fermented vegetables.

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A Russian fish farming operation in Ura Bay in the Barents Sea.

Can We Feed The World With Farmed Fish?

3:23pm August 15, 2017

by Alastair Bland

New research suggests there is space on the open ocean to farm essentially all the seafood humans can eat — and then some. But such volumes of fish and shellfish could not be grown without costs.

Arthritis is a joint disease that can cause cartilage destruction and erosion of the bone, as well as tendon inflammation and rupture. Affected areas are highlighted in red in this enhanced X-ray.

6,000-Year-Old Knee Joints Suggest Osteoarthritis Isn't Just Wear And Tear

11:56am August 15, 2017

by Richard Harris

Even after a Harvard team took into account differences in age and weight among ancient specimens and knees today, they found that modern humans tend to have more osteoarthritis.

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Science

New Study Highlights Strong Link Between Basic Research And Inventions

4:39pm August 14, 2017

by Joe Palca

A big waste of money or the engine of marketplace innovation? That's how some people see basic scientific research. Now a new study shows how basic research and inventions are connected.

Science

Researchers: Hackers Could Encode Human DNA With Malicious Software

7:55am August 12, 2017

University of Washington researchers say malware could be encoded into DNA strands. NPR's Scott Simon speaks to researcher Karl Koscher about the findings and what they mean for gene sequencing.

It takes more than temperament tests to ensure safe dog adoptions, says Alva Noë.

Success In Placing Shelter Dogs Takes More Than Temperament Tests

1:21pm August 11, 2017

by Alva Noë

Blogger Alva Noë talks with a dog trainer who says the need to give shelters, handlers and adopters the resources required to keep dogs and people supported and safe is critical in the process.

A recent study shows a link between high discharge rates for live patients and hospice profit margins.

Nearly 1 In 5 Hospice Patients Discharged While Still Alive

12:41pm August 11, 2017

by Ina Jaffe

The hospices that discharge the most patients before their death also make the most money, a recent study shows.

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Scientists have edited out defective genes in a human embryo.

People Back Editing Genes To Treat Disease, But Are Wary Of Inheritable Changes

10:57pm August 10, 2017

by Courtney Columbus

Scientists are getting closer to being able to alter people's genes permanently. A survey found that people are more cautious about changes that could be passed on to future generations.

Andrew Ladd and Fumiko Chino at their wedding in 2006, after his cancer diagnosis. Ladd died the following year, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt.

Widowed Early, A Cancer Doctor Writes About The Harm Of Medical Debt

5:47pm August 10, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

A decade after the death of her husband, Fumiko Chino is studying the strain that uncovered medical costs put on cancer patients, even those who have insurance.

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When it comes to pollutant levels, researchers now say where your tuna was caught matters.

Some Tuna Can Carry Up To 36 Times The Toxic Chemicals Of Others. Here's Why

11:14pm August 09, 2017

by Clare Leschin-Hoar

When it comes to pollutant levels, researchers now say where your tuna was caught can make a huge difference. But tracking your yellowfin to the spot it was caught may be tricky.