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Researchers have developed a coaster-size model of the human gut, which provides valuable insight into the molecular processes taking place between the intestinal microbiome and the host.

We've all heard the nonsense that artificial sweeteners are bad for you — they cause cancer and a variety of other diseases, according to some scare mongers. The latest scary story is a link between moms' drinking artificially sweetened beverages during pregnancy, and obesity in their offspring one year later.

A writhing mass of maggots in a wound might seem like a good reason to seek medical help. But, reports Carrie Arnold, sometimes it’s the doctors who have put them there, adopting an ancient treatment to help heal painful infected injuries.

A recent paper in Nature Climate Change affirms what you may have learned in an early biology class: Since carbon dioxide, or CO2, is necessary for plants to engage in photosynthesis, a boost will rev up the engines a little.

The type of cognitive strategy chosen could help protect an individual from the negative sequelae of traumatic events. A new study reveals that a technique called "concrete information processing" could be used to prevent intrusive thoughts (a hallmark of PTSD), and blunt emotional responses to subsequent distressing situations.

It is no wonder that the "war on drugs" has been an abject failure. There are multiple reasons. Here's a new one—using sophisticated pharmacology to make the anti-diarrheal drug Imodium into a substitute for heroin. Very clever, but deadly.

Herbivores, both in nature and the human self-identification kind, think plants love to be eaten. But a recent study shows that may not be so -- they may be biting back.

The debate about endocrine disruption is intense, in large part because the research is inconclusive. In turn, there's a great deal of uncertainty on this topic. We highlight the documents that may shed light on a workable approach to the issue.

Epigenetics is the all the rage in the scientific community, in that all that we know or don't know seems to be a result of this field of study. Researchers from Georgetown University published a study recently linking pre-conception influences in the father as a significant contributor to epigenetic changes in offspring.

A small examination of causes promoted by many educated -- but completely misguided -- advocates against science. Guest writer Marvin Schissel, an author and member of the Council's Board of Scientific Advisors, explains.

All exercise is good exercise, so why isn't weightlifting more popular? It may be because of off-putting, fringe cult mentalities like CrossFit -- but that shouldn't deter you. It is known that when performed correctly, muscle strengthening activity is safe, and large gains in muscle mass are unlikely.

Scientists from South Korea have developed a novel method for treating sepsis, one which does not focus on the infection. Rather it's aimed at maintaining the functional and structural integrity of blood vessels.

The health website WebMD supposedly gives us scientifically sound advice. So why is it following in the footsteps of the Natural Resources Defense Council with respect to pesticide scares? As a result we think the Web Doctor's health advice on this issue is decidedly unscientific.

In the United States it has become so popular for anti-science groups to blame hydraulic fracturing - fracking - for earthquakes that it might seem like little actual research is being done without an agenda.

The global production and sale of fake and substandard medicines is a serious problem. Not just bogus pseudo-medical products like supplements, but dangerous knock-offs being sold as real medicine that people truly need. According to new research, scholars want to use criminology theory to stop the fraudulent activity.

In a state where there are more pain management clinics than McDonald’s restaurants, Florida seems to be the epicenter of the prescription painkiller addiction epidemic. In response, the Sunshine State has been enacting laws, which have helped to more closely monitor drug distribution and combat the problem.

Perhaps the worst laboratory accident in recent memory occurred in 1996, when Karen Wetterhahn, a chemistry professor at Dartmouth, spilled a couple of drops of dimethylmercury on her glove. Thinking nothing of it, she simply changed gloves. Ten months later she died from mercury poisoning.

Psychological research on morality shows that we hold an overly optimistic view of our capacity to adhere to ethical standards. We believe that we are intrinsically more moral than others, that we will behave more ethically than others in the future and that transgressions committed by others are morally worse than our own. But that's not necessarily the case.

Copper, that darling of gourmet chefs, is great for cookware but not so effective for arthritis sufferers. But eventually it may actually help promote fat breakdown in the body — if, that is, the results of a new study can be replicated.

In what is just one more example of fear-based marketing, a company is selling "natural chemical" bracelets that supposedly protect kids from mosquitoes. Not only is this not going to work, but the natural chemical is just as toxic as DEET — the insect repellant that the company takes great pains to note, is absent. If this was on "Jeopardy" we'd call out this firm accordingly.

New York City has launched a three-year Zika awareness campaign called "Fight Back NYC" for which Mayor de Blasio has slotted $21 million. The posters have a singular focus on mosquitoes and have left out another image that should also be synonymous with Zika - that of a condom. With more and more sexually transmitted cases, why are we still talking only about mosquitoes? Our Zika public awareness campaigns should look more like they did for HIV/AIDS in the 90s.

A small pilot study detailed 10 cases of people with a particular gene. Patients who discontinued their personalized MEND protocol showed cognitive decline again, while those patients who remained had sustained improvement for up to four years later.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics just released its most recent data on the deadliest jobs in America. As usual, the "farming, fishing, and forestry" occupation group was the worst. But what's alarming is that the top three occupation groups with the highest suicide rates are also ranked within the top four deadliest occupation groups.

What's responsible for the sharp decline in smoking prevalence? The 13 percent smoking rate among 18-to-24-year olds last year is almost half as it was a decade ago. And the inescapable fact is that e-cigarettes, used by, among others, 2.5 million former smokers, are not impeding the dramatic, welcome decline in cigarette smoking.

Bottled water and other drinks typically come in plastic bottles made from PET. If not recycled, PET bottles stick around forever. But, some really clever microbiologists found a bug that evolved solely to eat the bottles. Will this be useful?