Activity trackers of all sorts have become must-have piece of technology — the theory being that they can encourage people to move more. But can activity trackers added to standard behavioral interventions help people lose more weight and maintain the weight loss longer? A recent study says ... not so much.
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A warning just published by the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency alerts women and their healthcare providers that some medications and herbal preparations can interfere with the efficacy of emergency contraceptive pills.
In March, Genocea’s GEN-003, became the first-ever effective herpes vaccine in human clinical trials, generating intense, worldwide interest. But now, Rational Vaccines just announced the first results of its own herpes vaccines, which may represent a substantial improvement over 003. Here's our interview with Rational's Chief Science Officer, William Halford, PhD.
For a scientist, a trip to Whole Foods is equal parts amusement and Dante's Inferno. These guys are selling some crazy stuff (along with some damn fine pie).
Once the weapon of choice for prepubescent teens, cyberbullying is now deployed, with ruthless efficiency, against PhDs who have committed the unspeakable crime of conducting research on, and publicly advocating, GMOs. The goal is straightforward: Biotech scientists must be destroyed professionally. Failing that, they must be destroyed emotionally.
The Polymerase Chain Reaction was developed in 1983, and since that time it's become one of the most commonly-used techniques in labs across the world. The ability to amplify one region of DNA using PCR was an incredible advance to many fields of scientific research.
The scientific review process should be rigorous, fair and unbiased. However, a new study in JAMA indicates that none of those may be true, finding that those who author a paper influences how stringently the data are judged.
Finally, a study where espousing the thought -- If you cared about my heart and well-being, then you wouldn’t stress me -- could be a win-win. Can anger trigger a heart attack? How about intense physical activity? Here's a closer look at heart health and heartbreak.
There is nothing like a 5,000 percent hike in the price of an old, generic drug to make people furious. There is never a legitimate reason for this. But while people are screaming at drug companies (with reason), there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye.
1. The medical testing company Theranos didn't need any more bad news - so it is odd that they went out of their way to find some. Starting on July 21st, we had been trying to put our scientist Dr. Julianna LeMieux in touch with someone - anyone - from the science part of the company, especially after “one of the top 10 medical and technological innovations in 2013” fell from grace so far in so short a time.
As many as half of lab tests ordered may not be necessary, and cutting back on them can not only minimize the "ouch factor," but it can also lower medical costs. Some research has been done in this area, producing some eye-opening conclusions.
When the word "natural" gets attached to any food or beverage, misunderstandings are sure to follow. Because without looking closely, the impression one receives usually is that "natural" is "better," and the process creating that natural product must be "healthier." Often that's not the case. Take "natural wine," for example.
It's widely believed that a low basal metabolism predisposes a person to weight gain and obesity. And it makes sense since a low BMR can be a substantial part of a sedentary person's energy expenditure. But a recent study couldn't find such a connection, so the old I'm fat because I have a slow metabolism excuse won't hold water, at least according to this study.
Here's a new health condition — text neck — supposedly caused by too much attention focused on texting. While we do believe that you can get a stiff neck from a poor position, we find it hard to believe that texting can lead to multiple ailments. Falling into a manhole, sure. But this?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report, which reflects record highs in primary and secondary syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
In March of 2016, a game called "Tom Clancy's The Division" was released. Unlike other "shooter" games such as "Destiny" and "Call of Duty", "The Division" has a compelling science story.(1) And the plot began on "Black Friday", the busiest shopping day of the year.
Welcome to our three part series discussing the science behind director Kathleen Gyllenhaal's latest documentary, IN UTERO. "To Avoid Adult Dysfunction Start 'IN UTERO'" took a deeper look at the health ramifications of toxic stress in prenatal life and its role in contributing to adult disease. Part I of our Q&A with Gyllenhaal emphasizes health, Hollywood, how a story gets told and the parallels between funding for film and scientific research.
Welcome to our three part series discussing the science behind director Kathleen Gyllenhaal's latest documentary, IN UTERO. In Part II of the Q&A, we explore her insights into motherhood and the impact of her recent film.
Earlier this month the FDA required that a "black box" warning — the most serious category — be placed on the "super hepatitis C drugs," such as Sovaldi and Harvoni. It doesn't make a lot of sense. An overreaction? That's what we believe. Here's why.
Recognizing the rapid rate of technological change in U.S. households, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced new guidelines for Children's Media Use that can be applied to all kids under 18, including infants. This welcome news gives parents a roadmap for navigating the often-perilous topic of determining the right amount of time that children can spend staring at computers, smartphones and TV screens.
1. If you read The Economist, you will note an article by our Senior Fellow In Biomedical Science Dr. Alex Berezow. The Economist audience cares about sexual cannibalism? In spiders? EVERYONE cares about that. It's lurid, it's provocative, and it's in October, which means it feels like Halloween.
Sure, it feels vaguely socialist to have the male of the species sacrificing himself for the good of the many, but parents do that all of the time.
With new SIDS recommendations released this week, we've seen dozens of news stories explaining how to create a safe sleeping environment for your baby. Many of them led by example -- of what not to do -- by attaching a photo of an infant in an unsafe environment. Come on guys ... we have to do better than that.
Ideology is a double-edged sword. Dedication to a set of beliefs can be admirable, but when it leads to inflexibility and obstinance in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it is a dangerous thing. Such ideological rigidity -- often found among the adherents of various philosophical, religious, and political doctrines -- can lead to the rejection of evidence-based inquiry, which serves as the bedrock of modern science.
How should scientists respond to the rising tide of anti-scientific sentiment in the world? The backlash against modern technology is widespread: Protests against genetic engineering, vaccines and "chemicals" are just some of the areas of concern. What can scientists do to address this problem?
What we eat – as opposed to how much – is a hot topic, and meat consumption is often scrutinized. A study that tracked almost 100,000 Americans for five years found that non-meat eaters were less likely to die – of any cause – during the study period than meat eaters. Now not all studies agree, however, as some show no difference at all in longevity between meat eaters and non-meat eaters.
Many natural remedies do not work. Despite those who swear by herbal medicines and other traditions that stretch back, in some cases, thousands of years, modern science often cannot verify the claimed benefits. But that isn't always the case. Occasionally, scientists confirm that a traditional remedy indeed does work, and one such example has been reported recently in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
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