National Science Foundation

Human disease leptospirosis identified in new species, the banded mongoose, in Africa

(Medical Xpress)—The newest public health threat in Africa, scientists have found, is coming from a previously unknown source: the banded mongoose. Leptospirosis, the disease is called. And the banded mongoose ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Learning high-performance tasks with no conscious effort may soon be possible (w/ video)

(Medical Xpress) -- New research published today in the journal Science suggests it may be possible to use brain technology to learn to play a piano, reduce mental stress or hit a curve ball with little or no ...

Neuroscience created Dec 08, 2011 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (38) | comments 26 | with audio podcast

Why context matters in the long and short of words: Researchers improve 75-year-old language theory

(Medical Xpress) -- Do you ever wonder about the stuff that makes up words? Why is a word a word, what goes into forming it, what's its history or why is it long or short? Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Jun 20, 2011 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (6) | comments 6 | with audio podcast

Information better retained with reinforcing stimuli delivered during sleep, research finds

When you're studying for an exam, is there something you can do while you sleep to retain the information better?

Neuroscience created Jan 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Study of infants challenges developmental sequence of human language learning

(Medical Xpress) -- Suppose a baby's first word is "mommy" or "daddy"--words an infant usually says around his or her first birthday. Of course, the little cherub puts a gleam in her parents' eyes; she's finally ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Mar 09, 2012 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (5) | comments 5 | with audio podcast

Researcher examines behavior of genes to understand breast cancer risks, other health issues

Most often, people associate circadian rhythms with the symptoms of jet lag that occur after crossing several time zones. Circadian rhythms, which get their cues from light and darkness, can change sleep-wake ...

Medical research created Apr 30, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Novel technique for delivering multiple cancer treatments may solve hurdle for combinatorial drug therapies

Cancers are notorious for secreting chemicals that confuse the immune system and thwarting biological defenses.

Cancer created Jul 15, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Precautions for tick-borne disease extend "beyond lyme"

(Medical Xpress)—This year's mild winter and early spring were a bonanza for tick populations in the eastern United States. Reports of tick-borne disease rose fast.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Sep 07, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 3

Exploring the brain's relationship to habits

(Medical Xpress)—The basal ganglia, structures deep in the forebrain already known to control voluntary movements, also may play a critical role in how people form habits, both bad and good, and in influencing ...

Neuroscience created Jan 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Bionic leg makes amputee faster on his feet

Craig Hutto considers himself part bionic man. In 2005, doctors amputated his leg after a shark attacked him during a fishing trip off the Florida Gulf Coast.

Medical research created Jan 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Breakthrough in early cancer detection

Cape Cod-TV correspondent Melissa Chartrand went into the hospital three years ago to undergo a hysterectomy, a common procedure that was supposed to eliminate her abdominal pains. But for Melissa, a far more serious pain ...

Cancer created Jan 10, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

Analyzing babies' expressions could help children at risk for developmental disorders

Parents and babies smile, laugh and coo at each other, but scientists still have a lot of questions about how these interactions help infants develop.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Jan 08, 2013 | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Researchers developing device that could improve sound resolution for deaf individuals who opt for cochlear implants

(Medical Xpress)—The cochlear implant is widely considered to be the most successful neural prosthetic on the market. The implant, which helps deaf individuals perceive sound, translates auditory information ...

Medical research created Apr 05, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Seeing Beyond the Visual Cortex

(Medical Xpress) -- It's a chilling thought--losing the sense of sight because of severe injury or damage to the brain's visual cortex. But, is it possible to train a damaged or injured brain to "see" again after such a catastrophic ...

Neuroscience created Apr 03, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

'Movement retraining' can reduce knee pain (w/ Video)

Aches and pains got you down? The way you walk could be wearing out parts of your body.

Arthritis & Rheumatism created Jun 05, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0