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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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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In an analysis of 28 wide circulation women’s magazines, researchers found that more than one third of the images of sleeping babies show them lying down in a position that could increase their risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The alarming number of photos reinforcing unsafe sleeping positions may be giving young mothers the
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A study that tested paper money from 30 big cities in five countries—including the U.S., Brazil, Canada, China and Japan—found that big metropolitan areas in both Canada and the U.S. have an alarmingly high presence of cocaine on their currency, with traces of the narcotic on 85-90% of bills. Brazil, coming in just behind the North
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In a Wall Street Journal editorial titled, “The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare,” John Mackey, the founder and C.E.O. of Whole Foods—one of the world’s biggest retailers of “natural” and organic foods—stirred up furor among his left-leaning customer base by denouncing Obama’s health care plan as likely to “move us much closer …
A study published this week in Science suggests that the active ingredient in marijuana, cannabinoids—which include THC and other chemicals—may limit the body’s ability to tamp down pain responses, and, as a result, turn short term acute pain into more long term discomfort. While there has been a growing amount of research analyzing
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By processing mango pits instead of throwing them away, one University of Alberta researcher discovered a novel way to preserve food—and potentially combat dangerous bacterial infections such as Listeriosis. An outbreak of the illness last year in Canada left at least 21 people dead, making the findings published recently in the
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Compared with heterosexuals, more than twice as many gays, lesbians and bisexuals seek counseling for mental health problems or substance abuse, according to research from the University of California, Los Angeles. In a survey of more than 2,000 people between the ages of 18 and 64, researchers found that 48.5% of homosexuals and
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Trying to communicate without a common language can be an exercise in bizarre and energetic gesturing, combined with exaggerated facial expressions. Yet, according to research published online in Current Biology, it’s not just our words, but even our smiles and frowns that can get lost in translation. A team of researchers led by Rachael
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Whenever there is an outbreak of disease—be it SARS, drug-resistant tuberculosis, or now, swine flu—there is an accompanying wave of fear about the myriad ways in which people can put themselves at risk. And, considering air travel confines you to a shared space with a bunch of potentially sick strangers for hours on end, there is
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In an essay published in this week’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a trio of medical researchers team up to propose a novel way to trim some of the nation’s ballooning health care costs: require FDA labeling to include information on how new drugs compare to existing remedies. Not exactly clear how that will save money?
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With the economy in a rut, it appears that more people are turning to old-school trading of goods and services in exchange for health care. The Associated Press reported yesterday that “old-fashioned bartering has seen brisk growth since the economy soured.” To illustrate this, they point to companies like ITEX Corp., a Bellevue, …
In a confirmation of persistent stereotypes, an international team of psychologists have determined that when it comes to one-night stands, men have much lower standards than women do. The study, published in the journal Human Nature, revealed that when asked whether they would “go out with,” “go home with,” or “go to bed with,” a member …
