Rett syndrome is a genetic brain development disorder that primarily affects females. It is predominantly caused by a sporadic mutation in the MECP2 gene on the X chromosome. The syndrome becomes…

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are looking for ways to reduce or prevent heart damage by starting where the problem often begins: in the genes. Following a heart attack, cells die,…

Measles, one of the most common contagious diseases, has been thought to enter the body through the surface of airways and lungs, like many other major viruses. Now, Mayo Clinic researchers and their…

Freshly released spermatozoids don't just achieve fertilization, they must undergo some changes for this to occur. Among those are changes due to receptors situated in the plasmatic membrane (the…

What makes a pointer point, a sheep dog herd, and a retriever retrieve? Why do Yorkshire terriers live longer than Great Danes? And how can a tiny Chihuahua possibly be related to a Great Dane? Dogs…

Is it worse to be fat or just to feel fat? Quality of life is lower in obese children but it is unknown how much of that correlates to self-evaluation. If adolescents think they are “far too fat,”…

Courtesy of the Phoenix landing craft on Mars we just discovered that there is ice on Mars. Now that is cool, very cool! In the last century there has been a constant fascination and debate about…

Turmeric, an Asian spice found in many curries, has a long history of use in reducing inflammation, healing wounds and relieving pain, but can it prevent diabetes? Since inflammation plays a big role…

Individuals who are obese are at increased risk of many diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. As 75%-95% of previously obese individuals regain their lost weight, many researchers…

More than half of all older adults complain about having difficulties sleeping. Most don't bother seeking treatment. Those who do usually turn either to medications, which can lead to other health…

Scientists and Engineers for America have put up seven questions that they suggest asking Congressional candidates (see their website for the full questions; the following is abridged): 1. What…

Leprosy, attributable to infection with Mycobacterium leprae, was once endemic over much of the world. Though now often considered a “tropical disease,” cases occurred north of the Arctic Circle just…

I've seen the pictures from Mars. Clearly indicating that something is disappearing from the crate left after a second scoop by Phoenix. I don't wish to be a party pooper, but could it also have been…

I sometimes joke that you should never read your own papers once they are published, because you will undoubtedly find something you wish you had written differently. Case in point, a paper of ours…

One of my pet peeves is the common description in the media of bacteria "learning" to "outsmart" antibiotics. As anyone with a basic comprehension of evolution knows, learning has nothing to do with…

Skin piercings might be the rage among teens, but researchers from Tel Aviv University have found good reasons to think twice about piercing one's tongue or lip. Dr. Liran Levin, a dentist from the…

Researchers have found that female red squirrels showed high levels of multimale mating and would even mate with males that had similar genetic relatedness, basically mating with their relatives.…

A new discovery by University of Western Ontario scientist Graham Thompson claims to be conclusive evidence that the 'selfish gene', introduced conceptually in 1976 by British biologist Richard…

If you watch popular shows like “Undress the Nation” or Gok Wan’s “How to Look Good Naked” - what, you don't watch them? That's because that guy behind American Idol hasn't brought them here yet, and…

Dr. Ira Sharlip, President of the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) detailed a new definition of premature ejaculation. He addressed the audience of the American Urological Association…