At the Beijing Olympics, 25 new swimming world records were set; the only Olympics at which more records were broken was in 1976, when goggles were used for the first time. At this year's Olympics, in addition to U.S. phenomenon Michael Phelps, a new…

Over a century ago, Dr. Ronald Ross won a Nobel Prize for his discovery that mosquitoes transmit the parasites that cause malaria. Since that time, a growing problem in South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia is the number of malarial…

We are constantly exposed to foreign agents in the environment, such as bacteria, viruses and allergens, which can make us sick. But, although we are seldom aware of it, our immune system is constantly working to protect us. However, sometimes the immune…

As news of Senator Ted Kennedy's diagnosis of malignant glioma traveled throughout the country and beyond, it was an opportunity for people to learn more about an otherwise rare form of cancer...

As energy sources wane, the price of oil rises, and climate change becomes a global issue, nations have begun to evaluate alternative energy sources...

What can earthworms, salamanders, some fish, and some frogs do that mammals (such as humans) cannot? If you said that they can all regenerate extensive parts of their bodies after amputation, you are correct!

Almost 50 years ago the combined oral contraceptive pill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in preventing pregnancy, ushering in a new era of hormonally-based birth control. Now, in addition to the original "Pill" women can…

Building a brain is a complicated business. During the development of the human brain, billions of cells are born, orderly migrate to their appropriate locations, and synthesize connections with other cells near and far. Years ago, scientists discovered…

Genetically modified organisms, such as tomatoes and rice, have been around for several decades now, although the controversies surrounding this technology are still unresolved. The engineering behind genetically modified foods involves the manipulation…

The knowledge of one's personal and familial history -- be it genealogical, cultural, or medical -- is usually restricted to memories, anecdotes and paper documents. The availability and increasing affordability of DNA sequencing has the potential to…