Burning everyday paraffin-wax candles can emit a storm of toxic chemicals, including toluene and benzene, according to a study presented today to the American Chemical Society. To be sure, it’s nowhere near as harmful to light an occasional candle as it would be, say, to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. But the researchers say that …
What causes tone-deafness?
A new study from researchers at Beth Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School suggests that tone-deafness may be the result of a missing neural connection. By using a brain imaging technique that allows them to examine the links between the right temporal and frontal lobes, the scientists compared the neural connectivity of 10
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Phone calls help cancer patients feel better
When nurses reach out to their cancer patients by phone, those patients on average report higher quality of life and better mood, even if their symptoms are no better than other patients’. The finding comes from a new report published in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association. New Hampshire researchers tested a simple …
A patch to take the ouch out of shots
What if, instead of having to brave a hypodermic needle each time you needed a shot, you could simply slap on a patch and go about your day? According to some preliminary research from scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, that possibility may be just a few years off.
Can running be addictive?
As the saying goes, everything in moderation. While regular exercise is good for you for a host of reasons—reducing your risk for disease, helping to preserve cognitive abilities and protect mental health, and improving your overall heart health, to name some—according to a study of rats conducted by a team of psychologists at Tufts
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One third of homeowners in foreclosure suffer from major depression, study finds
A full 36.7% of homeowners in foreclosure meet the screening criteria for major depression, according to a new study released today in the American Journal of Public Health. A further 10.2% suffer from minor depression, the study finds.
The result comes from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, who surveyed 250 …
Using the “smell of death” to solve crimes
Scientists and police detectives alike have long known that decomposing human bodies give off some ghastly smells—caused by the emission of the aptly named gases “cadaverine” and “putrescine,” among others—and that being able to sniff out those unseemly aromas can be critical at crime scenes or in the aftermath of a disaster as
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Whole grains appear chock full of heart-healthy antioxidants
Nutritionists say whole grains are good for you because they contain a lot of fiber. Now, new research shows they’re also packed full of polyphenol antioxidants — substances that help to rid your body of harmful free radicals, highly reactive molecules and ions that can damage your cells.
You’ve probably heard good things about …
Playing too many video games may be bad for you too, grown ups
In the past, research into the negative health impact of spending too many hours each day glued to a TV set, video game console or computer screen has focused on “tweens” and adolescents, generally between the ages of 8-18. While this age group certainly earns their reputation as gamers—with 59–73% manning the controller on an
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Can mental toughness be taught?
The U.S. Army plans to give every one of its soldiers mental stress training, according to today’s New York Times. The training is meant to address troubling levels of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among soldiers and ex-soldiers. The Army suicide rate has continued to climb this year, with suicides even exceeding combat …
Our health care’s not so bad, Brits point out
In the heated exchanges flying back and forth about President Obama’s proposed health care reform, some barbs have been landing a bit far afield, namely, on the other side of the Atlantic. And while moaning about the National Health Service (NHS)—the United Kingdom’s universal health care provider—may be a favorite pastime for Brits,
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Herbs and spices instead of chemical pesticides?
Rosemary and thyme usually make people think of roast chicken or lamb chops—or possibly the Simon and Garfunkel song Scarborough Fair—but innovative research from scientists at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems could give new meaning to these common herbs. In a study presented this past weekend at
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The dangerous stuff in tobacco snuff
A study analyzing the chemical composition of smokeless tobacco—snuff and chewing tobacco—finds that, in excess of the risks posed by tobacco and nicotine exposure, users are subjecting their bodies to an array of harmful chemicals. Confirming and expanding on previous research into smokeless tobacco products, the researchers found
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