Stories by Luciana Gravotta

New Therapies Take Early Aim at Autism

By spotting signs of this developmental disorder in young toddlers, parents and therapists may be able to target a child's deficits before they become debilitating

History of Sin: How It All Began

Tracking the seven deadly sins—from their Egyptian roots and influence on the arts to their debut in blockbuster films and iPhone apps

Men and Women Gauge Risk Differently

Whose strategy is better depends on what is at stake

These Body Drugs Can Affect the Mind

Bad mood? Sleep loss? Memory trouble? Check your prescriptions

What is it?

Very Fine Art: 6 Stunningly Beautiful Nanoscale Sculptures [Slide Show]

Researchers coax self-assembling materials into flowers, corals and other complex shapes

Why Doctors Prescribe Off-Label Drugs

Why your doctor might give you an antidepressant to treat your migraines

Cheap Nanotech Filter Clears Hazardous Microbes and Chemicals from Drinking Water

A $16 device could provide a family of five with clean water for an entire year

Natural-Born Cheaters: A Look at Double-Dealing Animals [Slide Show]

How animals deceive rivals, peers and mates to get what they want

Rewiring a Damaged Spinal Cord [Video]

New treatments leverage “neuroplasticity,” the nervous system’s innate ability to repair itself

Eat, Lust, Pay: How to Gain More Self-Control

Learn simple steps for fighting temptation

Be Mine Forever: Oxytocin May Help Build Long-Lasting Love

The hormone oxytocin increases empathy and communication, key to sustaining a relationship between mates

Feeling Threatened Makes Us Nicer

Perceived menace makes people kinder to their kin but nastier to outsiders. Whether they use this strategy depends on family size