Articles by Rebecca Kaplan
Detecting depression with a blood test: Screening will be reality soon
A new study finds that you can diagnose depression effectively with a blood test. The same blood test can also tell doctors how effective treatment is.
A man and his goldfish: Owner pays $200 for pet’s ‘high-risk’ brain tumor removal
A goldfish surgery goes swimmingly well! George, an Australian goldfish, made a complete recovery after a risky surgery to remove a tumor from its head.
Early Earth may not have been molten hell, but a place of solid crust and liquid water
A new study shows that, unlike the molten hell scientists previously thought early Earth was, the period was cool and wet enough for land and bodies of water to form, at least for a time. The study analyzed 4-billion-year-old zircon to discover more about the Hadean period.
Unraveling schizophrenia: It’s a bundle of disorders, not just one disease
A new study has identified not one, but eight different genetic clusters that are linked to schizophrenia. Each set of genes is marked by a different set of symptoms, suggesting that schizophrenia is not one syndrome as previously thought, but eight similar disorders.
MIT’s 'cheetah' robot satisfies the need for speed
An incredible new MIT robot can run like a cheetah, autonomously and efficiently. The cheetah is the fastest living animal, reaching up to 60 miles per hour as it bounds across the African plains.
Giant observation tower in heart of Amazon will gauge greenhouse gas perils
A new research tower is being built in the Amazonian rain forest to track greenhouse gases. A new project plans to track the effect of greenhouse gases on the Amazonian rain forest.
New pterosaur species flew right out of Cameron's 'Avatar': Meet the Ikrandraco avatar
Scientists discovered a new species and genus of pterosaur in northern China -- and named it after the species Ikran from "Avatar."
Pesticides in our water: Risk to humans down, but risk to aquatic-life holds steady
A new study shows that although the US has made advances in reducing chemicals harmful to humans in rivers and streams, there are still too many harmful chemicals for marine life.
24 years without a cerebellum: This woman never noticed
A 24-year-old woman in China found out some startling news on a recent hospital visit: she was born without a cerebellum.
And they’re back! Three astronauts return to planet from space station
Three astronauts successfully left the ISS and made a safe landing on Earth on September 10. Three people have successfully landed back on Earth after leaving the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday September 10.
Solar flares send two CME’s to Earth: Sunny with a chance of geomagnetic storms?
NASA's Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory captured two CMEs today, on September 11. The sun emitted two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) today, September 11.
Unnecessary and excessive use of antibiotics in hospitals are driving costs up: Study
A new study reveals that hospitals in the US could have spent as much as $163 million on unnecessary antibiotics from 2008-2011.
Germanene: Graphene 'cousin' synthesized, using gold substrate
A new research study shows that scientists are able to produce germanene, a material with the potential to be far more efficient than graphene.
Mothers' childhood experiences influence how they react to their babies' cries
A new study shows that the more positively a mother remembers her childhood caretakers, the more likely she will be able to cope well and respond to her own baby's crying at the age of six months.
Ancient Egyptians were ancient ecologists: Species loss recorded in art
A new study based on records of animals from ancient Egyptian drawings teaches us more about patterns of extinction in the Nile region.
Early autism treatment could diminish symptoms, improve development
A new study shows that treatment in children as young as six months old can provide effective prevention for autism spectrum disorder.
Carbon emissions rise at record speed, WMO puts oceans in center of climate discussions
A new report from the World Meteorological Organization reveals that carbon dioxide concentration made a sharp increase last year.
Europa’s plate tectonics: Jupiter’s moon may mirror Earth more than we thought
New research reveals that Europa, one of Jupiter's four moons, shows geographic similarities to Earth in having tectonic plates that shape and form the surface.
Trout and eel make rare, deadly team against hapless prey
A new study shows that coral trout can effectively size up potential collaborators such as eel, with as much skill as chimpanzees.
Viruses can conquer an office in hours: How can you stay safe?
Charles Gerba gave a presentation at a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, showing that viruses like norovirus spread very quickly in places such as office buildings, but that the spread can be contained effectively with disinfectant.
Global suicide rate is growing cause for concern, WHO says
The WHO has recently issued a report addressing the severity of suicide and ways it can be prevented.
The blue whale comeback: A conservation success story
The California blue whale population has made an extraordinary, almost complete comeback after being brought to the brink of extinction by hunting, a new study shows.
Dreadnoughtus unearthed: Largest animal puts T. rex to shame, most complete giant dino fossil ever found
A more than half completed skeleton of what may be one of the largest creatures to ever roam the Earth was recently discovered.
Solar eruption is an open show thanks to NASA
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has recorded a video of an incredible solar flare. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has captured some truly incredible footage of the sun in the middle of a flare.
Clever cockatoos can use tools and teach others how
A new study shows that a species of cockatoo is able to learn tool use from another bird, possibly the first controlled experiment showing that birds can learn new skills from each other.
Bayer happy with Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) trial results
A new study shows promising results for the drug rivaroxaban, an anticoagulant like warfarin. A new drug, rivaroxaban (Xarelto), has had promising results, the company announced in a new press release.
Miracle! Boy born without brain defies all odds to live for 12 years
A boy born with hydranencephaly, a condition characterized by lack of both cerebral hemispheres, died on August 25 after living for 12 years without a brain.
Americans improving eating habits but diet quality between rich and poor widens: Study
A new research study done at Harvard School of Public Health showed that there has been an overall increase in healthy eating in America, but a disconcertingly widening gap between the diets of the rich and the poor.
Double mastectomy doesn't better cancer survival rates: Study
A new study shows that a double mastectomy does not increase the chances of survival for most women with breast cancer.
Window of opportunity' on 'out of control' Ebola is closing: CDC
Dr. Tom Frieden, the director of the CDC, warned world governments today that there is a window of opportunity where we can still control the spread of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, but that window is closing.
