Close-up of two pills with a blurred glass of water in the background

The Power of Placebo

Why - and when - is placebo effective?
Close-up of an open human eye

An Eye Full of Ebola

Dr. Ian Crozier was declared cured after a harrowing bout with the Ebola virus, only to discover that his left eye was full of the virus.
Various vitamins of different sizes and colors

Do Vitamin Supplements Cause Cancer?

There's been a long history of research on vitamin supplements and their potential cancer risk.
genetic manipulation

Genetic Manipulation: The Next Big Thing

The CRISPR-Cas9 (CRISPR) method of genetic manipulation enables scientists to insert, delete, and edit genes in organisms from lowly microbes to monkeys.
A seated individual clutching their knee

In Pain? Don’t Worry, It’s Literally in Your Mind

A look at the research in mind/body science and pain.
Man in work clothes sleeping on a made bed

What Does It Mean to Have Jet Lag?

What is jet lag, and why does it affect us so much more in the spring than in the fall?
Microscope view of bacteria

She Has Your Eyes. And Your Gut Bacteria’s Genome!

Upending our entire understanding of inheritance, an infant can apparently inherit genes directly from her mother’s bacteria.
A pot being washed in a sink

To Avoid Allergies, Skip the Dishwasher

A new study says that children raised in homes where dishes are typically washed by hand have lower rates of allergies than where the dishwasher is used.
Stairs of an NYC subway station

Subway Bacteria: Commuting with E. coli

Unknown bacteria on the subway share a commute with many of us daily. Should we be concerned?
A chemist looks at a test tube in a medical lab

When It Comes to Science, Scientists and the Public Diverge

Scientists and the public understand science topics quite differently, according to a new poll.