Science in the Abstract: Don't Judge a Study by its Cover
A competition for attention lies at the heart of the scientific enterprise. And the abstract is its “blurb.” A scientific abstract is a summary used to attract readers to an article and to get a piece of research accepted for a conference presentation.
Widely Used Autism Drug Carries Heavy Risks for Children
Risperidone, the first drug approved for children with autism and the most widely used, improves some behavior but can have severe side effects such as sleepiness and weight gain
Emerging Contaminants Taint Drinking Water Supply
This week is Drinking Water Week; a week where water professionals like myself and communities throughout the country recognize the vital role water plays.
Reflections of a Fourth Year Medical Student
"We pass through the present with our eyes blindfolded. We are permitted merely to sense and guess at what we are actually experiencing. Only later when the cloth is untied can we glance at the past and find out what we have experienced and what meaning it has." - Milan Kundera Two weeks ago, I [...]
The Quest: My Two Favorite Tricks for Searching PubMed
The short item I wrote about cancer immunotherapy quickly went viral on Monday and became the most-read article on Scientific American's website.
The Quest: Get the Lowdown on the Pills You're Popping
Looking up information about prescription medications used to mean thumbing through the pages of the big blue Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR), or more recently, searching the PDR website.
Happy Birthday, Circle of Willis!
By 1664, the year he published his most famous book of neuroanatomy, Cerebri Anatome, Dr. Thomas Willis was already renowned in Britain for saving lives.
Who Knew? Cancer Has an Off Switch [Video]
A new drug combination jump-starts the body’s ability to fight cancer
An Ingredient of Pot May Help People with Epilepsy
A new marijuana-derived drug may treat epileptic children, without the high
Mammography Evidence Ping-Pong: a Viewer's Guide
You could get a very sore neck watching all the claims and counter-claims about mammography zing back and forth. It’s like a lot of evidence ping-pong matches.
New Drug for Stomach Cancer Starves Tumors of Blood
The medication could offer a way to fight other cancers as well
26-Minute Execution Deemed "Humane" in Ohio Analysis
When Ohio executed convicted rapist and murderer Dennis McGuire in early 2014, it set off a maelstrom of controversy. Ohio used a drug cocktail that appeared to leave McGuire gasping for air for some 11 minutes until he was pronounced dead--26 minutes after the initial injection of his drugs.