Ob-gyns Say No To Routine Lead Testing In Pregnancy
New recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say doctors should ask women a series of questions to see if they might be at risk for high lead exposure before conducting a blood test for the heavy metal.
Sally Ride, First US Woman In Space, Dies At 61
American astronaut Sally Ride passed away peacefully after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from the company she founded.
Sheep Flock Together In 'Selfish Herd,' Scientists Say
Flocking together for self-protection isn't an altruistic move for sheep -- they're just playing the odds, researchers say.
Bats Eavesdrop On Fly Sex To Grab Easier Meal: Study
Flies that were normally invisible to bats had a higher risk of death thanks to noisy, predator-attracting lovemaking.
Young Science Prodigies Buck Greying Trend In Breakthroughs
In the past few decades, scientific breakthroughs are increasingly coming from older scientists. But young people still make astounding discoveries, and some institutions, including science fairs and the U.S. government, aim to encourage budding researchers to keep at it.
Nerve Cells Grown In Lab Link Up Best When Arranged In Triangles: Study
Nerve cell networks in the lab are still being refined, but could eventually be an efficient way to test drugs and better understand our brains.
Poverty, Not Mental Illness, Is Source Of Many Poor Mothers' Anxiety: Study
A team of Rutgers University researchers thinks some poor women might be getting misdiagnosed as mentally ill when their anxiety stems from the stress of poverty.
Redheaded Boars Are More Stressed Out, Study Finds
Reddish hair is linked to increased oxidative stress in boars, according to a new study.
U.S. Whooping Cough Outbreak Could Be Worst In Half Century
A spike in whooping cough cases among 10-year-olds and adolescents who are 13 and 14 was a concern, perhaps an indicator that the pertussis vaccine may be wearing off earlier than anticipated, Washington Health Secretary Mary Selecky said.
Older U.S. Women More Likely To Drink While Pregnant, Study Shows
The CDC found that about 14 percent of pregnant women ages 35 to 44 reported having at least one drink in the previous 30 days, compared to 7.6 percent for all pregnant women and just 4.5 percent for those ages 18 to 24.
New State Laws Make Getting Abortions Tougher In U.S.: Report
A New York-based advocacy group found that nearly 40 laws enacted across 15 states this year have the potential to restrict women's access to reproductive health care, nearly 40 years after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade made the controversial procedure legal.
Egg Allergy Treatment Is No Yolk: Study Find Success With Egg-White Powder
Scientists were able to reduce and in some cases eliminate egg allergies in a small study of children -- but don't try this at home!
Shockingly Old Spiral Galaxy Spotted
Galaxies formed in the early universe are generally irregular and clumpy, but astronomers have stumbled upon one very old galaxy that was spiral-shaped nearly 11 billion years ago -- much earlier than previously thought possible.
Black Gay Men, Southern States Bear Heaviest AIDS Burden In U.S.
While there's increasing hopes for an end to the AIDS epidemic, African-American gay men are still the most disproportionately affected subsection of the population.
Alzheimer Drug Gives Down Syndrome Patients Slight Memory Boost: Study
Memantine, a drug given to Alzheimer's disease patients, improved verbal episodic memory function in a small trial of Down syndrome patients.
Milk Thistle Extract Doesn't Help Liver Patients, Trial Finds
Silymarin, a botanical extract from milk thistle, performed no better than placebo in a trial of hepatitis C patients.
Fukushima Radiation's Effects Estimated In New Study
Scientists modeled the spread of radioactive material from the site of a nuclear accident in Japan and predict that health effects will be higher than some officials have acknowledged.
Public Favors Posthumous Reproduction, With Consent: Survey
In recent years, it's become possible to do emergency retrieval of sperm or eggs when somebody suddenly dies or becomes terminally ill.
Gilead Wins First Approval Of Drug To Prevent HIV
Gilead Sciences Inc's Truvada was approved for people who are not yet infected but may engage in sexual activity with HIV-infected partners, a concept known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Asexual Fungus Love Cleans The Water, Researchers Find
Polluted water can be scrubbed clean thanks to oxidized minerals formed by a byproduct of fungus spore-making, scientists say.
Malaria Parasite Taken Out By Genetically Engineered Bacteria
Researchers have taken a plant pest and programmed it to target the parasite that causes malaria.
A Womb With Two Very Different Views
Genetic research examining the placenta, umbilical cord tissue and cord blood of newborn fraternal and identical twins found that even the closest siblings start growing apart very early.
Scientists See AIDS Vaccine Within Reach After Decades
A 2009 clinical trial in Thailand was the first to show it was possible to prevent HIV infection in humans. Since then, discoveries have pointed to even more powerful vaccines using HIV-fighting antibodies. Now scientists believe a licensed vaccine is within reach.
Tooth Fillings Made With BPA Tied To Behavior Issues
Researchers found kids who had multiple fillings made using BPA - and who'd had those fillings for a long time - consistently scored two to six points worse on 100-point behavior measures than those who had none of the fillings or who'd only had one for a short time.
Holy Scientific Overanalysis, Batman!
Science explains why Superman is probably celibate and why Batman should probably pack a Bat-parachute on his utility belt.
Brain Tissue From Former NFL Star Seau To Be Studied For Damage
The brain sample was sent to the NIH, the U.S. government's primary biomedical research institution, at the request of Seau's family members, said a spokeswoman for the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office.
Heavy People More Likely To Have Colon Polyps
Previous studies have made the connection between obesity and colon cancer, but a new study is the first to point to a higher risk of adenomas in heavy people.
California County Wants Drug Makers To Pay For Pill Disposal
A new measure in Northern California is designed to force pharmaceutical companies to bear the cost of collecting and safely discarding unused prescription drugs that might otherwise foul waterways or fall into the hands of substance abusers.
Scientists Trace Timeline Of Alzheimer's Slow, Deadly Path
A new study offers a timeline of changes in spinal fluid, brain size, the appearance of brain plaques and other factors that precede the onset of Alzheimer's in people who are genetically predestined to develop the brain-wasting disease.
[EMBARGO 5PM] Many OxyContin Addicts Switching To Heroin After Formula Change: Study
[EMBARGO 5PM] The company that makes OxyContin altered the formula for the painkiller back in 2010 to deter people from abusing the drug. But many users are just changing their habit instead of kicking it, according to new data.
