Stories by Nikhil Swaminathan

Poor people get it faster than wealthier ones when there is a small financial reward

By looking at gene activity, researchers hope to develop a quick test for diagnosing harmful radiation exposure

Using work done to rapidly introduce a transgenic element in fruit flies, researchers hope to cure mosquitoes—and humans—of malaria

Chemical used to make plastics is found in recalled food and sick animals

In a word: No. New diversification "supertree" overturns long-held theory

Scientists and government agencies home in on the cause of more than 100 pet deaths from tainted food

An enzyme used by viruses to break cell walls beats back bacteria that cause ear infections, pneumonia

Researchers engineer mice to see the world as humans do, provide clues to how primate vision evolved

Patients with damage to the prefrontal cortex adopt a utilitarian policy when making difficult moral judgments

New mouse model could help researchers better understand bipolar disorder

In the face of mounting resistance to antibiotics, doctors seek to fool bacteria and deprive them of a critical growth factor.

Scientists show that nonfamilial cases of autism may result from spontaneous genome deletions

Study shows memories formed by the same gene-silencing tool used in embryonic development; a finding could set the stage for new therapies for schizophrenia

New research argues that shapeliness and other typical measures don't cut it on their own

A mechanism that calms nerve cells in adults and children, has the opposite effect on teenagers; finding could lead to new treatments for teen angst and depression

Researchers find that a protein activated to repair DNA damage also activates tanning, which can protect against melanoma

New study shows that in obese mice a hormone secreted by fat cells goes undetected and the regulation of appetite is thrown off; findings could trigger treatment

Scientists have a new theory about what happens in the brain when you snooze

A three-year study of noncommercial airplane pilots finds that more hours in the air can offset the effects of aging

A lack of dopamine receptors in a specific brain region could trigger increased compulsions, such as drug addiction

Italian researchers determine how juvenile and adult brains respond to environmental change

DNA analysis of nine prehistoric skeletons finds no sign of a gene variant conferring the ability to digest milk

New study finds that the release of prolactin strengthens neuron insulation, which could one day help reduce the effects of multiple sclerosis

Researchers pinpoint areas in the hearing cortex of the brain of macaques that respond to visual stimuli, providing clues how primates integrate sensory information