Stories by Melinda Wenner Moyer

Cholesterol Might be Linked to Breast Cancer

A common product of cholesterol may fuel breast tumor growth

A "Blame Bias" Distorts Our Judgment

Harm done, especially if the act was intentional, changes our perception of the injured party

"Human Sleep Project" Could Unlock the Secrets to a Good Night's Rest

What we could learn by monitoring sleep patterns of the entire world

Weighing the Evidence: Studies Collide over How Aging Impacts Obesity Risk

A meta-analysis found that carrying extra pounds becomes less risky with age, but two new studies dispute the “obesity paradox”

Brain Implant Could Enhance Our Senses

Whole-Grain Foods Not Always Healthful

Often synonymous with good health, whole grains may lack heart-healthy fiber—in fact, some processed forms increase cardiovascular risks

Male and Female Alcoholics Risk Relapse in Different Situations

Addicts of either sex struggle with different situations that may trigger a relapse

How Pesticides Can Cause Parkinson's

Foreign chemicals may prevent the brain from disposing of its own toxic waste

Why Older Adults Are Too Trusting

Activity in a key brain area drops with age

Brain's Glial Cells Spark Seizures

The brain's electrical storms may originate in nonelectrical cells

Without Glia, the Brain Would Starve

Blood vessels break down if certain glial cells are not present

Record Numbers of Teens Think Marijuana Is Harmless

A majority of teens see marijuana as risk-free

To Drink or Not to Drink

For pregnant women, is that still a question?

Is the Free-Radical Theory of Aging Dead?

The hallowed notion that oxidative damage causes aging and that vitamins might preserve our youth is now in doubt

Successful Salespeople Have Moderate Temperaments

The most gregarious salespeople are not the most successful

Brains of “Super Agers” Look Decades Younger

A key attention region may underlie some octogenarians' unusual abilities

How Much Alcohol Is Safe for Expectant Mothers?

An occasional drink during pregnancy is unlikely to harm most children, but we lack the tools to fully measure alcohol's effects on the developing brain

The EPA Must Get Up To Speed, Say Experts

The EPA needs to get up to speed, experts say

Recession Forces Districts to Cut Back on Lifesaving Vaccinations

Health departments have shrunk, raising fears about epidemics

A Patchwork Mind

We each have two parents, but their genetic contributions to what makes us us are uneven. New research shows we are an amalgam of influences from Mom and Dad