Stories by Roni Jacobson

Books and recommendations from Scientific American MIND

Several factors, such as severity of symptoms, family history, substance abuse and a “mixed” depressive and manic state may combine to increase the risk for suicide

Infections from Naegleria fowleri, the so-called brain-eating amoeba, may be on the rise--here’s what you should know about the deadly organism

Common antidepressants may also affect learning and digestion

Medicines can get the blood going, but some side effects remain unclear

Prescription painkillers, antidepressants and other brain drugs have gender-specific effects

The FCC has asked for comment on whether the Internet should be reclassified as a public utility to preserve net neutrality—but the motion faces political and legal hurdles

Africa has the lowest scientific output of any continent, despite being the second most populous. Combined, its 54 nations generate approximately the same amount of scientific research as the Netherlands.

Megaplants like Agua Caliente in Arizona herald a new efficiency in solar-sourced electricity

Bossy, know-it-all older sisters everywhere now have something else to lord over their younger siblings: Researchers have found that firstborn girls are the most ambitious and successful children in their families.

Not all families have two deeply committed parents. For everyone else, here are the essentials for raising kids right

For more than 40 years government officials have grappled with how to regulate and fund the controversial research 
 

The medication could offer a way to fight other cancers as well

For many conditions, marijuana's effectiveness remains uncertain

Crossed signals from alcohol-impaired perception do not cause unwanted come-ons, new research suggests. Instead, aggressors simply target women who appear inebriated

Prescriptions are on the rise, but evidence for the drugs' safety and effectiveness is mixed

Many job applicants consider social media screening an invasion of privacy, researchers have found, opening the door for discrimination lawsuits

As we steel ourselves against the cold and curse the polar vortex for bringing these bitter winds upon us, its helpful to remember that winter can also be a magical time of fluttering snowflakes and beautiful evening skies.

Prescription painkiller abuse is the newest drug epidemic to sweep the U.S.

Gene activity during slumber kicks off production of “support cells”

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKlines announcement on December 16 that it will cease paying doctors to promote its products took the medical community by surprise, but the plan appears to have been in the works for some time.

A type of malware called CryptoLocker is locking people’s data and threatening to destroy it unless they pay up

A comatose patient pushes the boundaries of what it means to be brain dead

Scientists from Columbia University improve memory in elderly mice after pinpointing a gene for senescent forgetfulness