Research News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1024&ft=1&f=1024 New advances in science, medicine, health, and technology.Stem cell research, drug research, and new treatments for disease. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:16:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Research News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1024&ft=1&f=1024 Animal CSI: Inside The Smithsonian's Feather Forensics Lab A keen eye and extensive knowledge of feathers allows forensic ornithologist Carla Dove (yes, that's her name) figure out from feather and bone fragments which type of bird crashed into a plane or was eaten by a snake. But the expertise has an uncertain future. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/184827651/animal-csi-inside-the-smithsonians-feather-forensics-lab?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/184827651/animal-csi-inside-the-smithsonians-feather-forensics-lab?ft=1&f=1024 A keen eye and extensive knowledge of feathers allows forensic ornithologist Carla Dove (yes, that's her name) figure out from feather and bone fragments which type of bird crashed into a plane or was eaten by a snake. But the expertise has an uncertain future.

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]]> The Human Voice May Not Spark Pleasure In Children With Autism Scientists and parents have long been baffled by the fact that children with autism often don't pay attention to human voices. Researchers say that may be because speech doesn't activate a reward system in the brain for those children the way it does for typical children. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192753499/the-human-voice-may-not-spark-pleasure-in-children-with-autism?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192753499/the-human-voice-may-not-spark-pleasure-in-children-with-autism?ft=1&f=1024 Scientists and parents have long been baffled by the fact that children with autism often don't pay attention to human voices. Researchers say that may be because speech doesn't activate a reward system in the brain for those children the way it does for typical children.

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]]> Rule Would List All Chimps As Endangered, Even Lab Animals Though the regulation proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Service would make it more difficult to use chimpanzees for research purposes, that may not be a problem, some scientists say. Scientific advances show the animals are less medically useful than previously thought. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/14/191611899/rule-would-list-all-chimps-as-endangered-even-lab-animals?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/14/191611899/rule-would-list-all-chimps-as-endangered-even-lab-animals?ft=1&f=1024 Though the regulation proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Service would make it more difficult to use chimpanzees for research purposes, that may not be a problem, some scientists say. Scientific advances show the animals are less medically useful than previously thought.

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]]> Decoding 'the Most Complex Object in the Universe' The human brain contains some 100 billion neurons, which together form a network of Internet-like complexity. Christof Koch, chief scientific officer of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, calls the brain "the most complex object in the known universe," and he's mapping its connections in hopes of discovering the origins of consciousness. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614360/decoding-the-most-complex-object-in-the-universe?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614360/decoding-the-most-complex-object-in-the-universe?ft=1&f=1024 The human brain contains some 100 billion neurons, which together form a network of Internet-like complexity. Christof Koch, chief scientific officer of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, calls the brain "the most complex object in the known universe," and he's mapping its connections in hopes of discovering the origins of consciousness.

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]]> Human Genes Not Patentable, Supreme Court Says The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that the mere act of isolating a DNA sequence does not make human genes patentable. Mary-Claire King, who helped discover the breast cancer gene at the center of the court dispute, discusses the ruling and its implications for genetics. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614367/human-genes-not-patentable-supreme-court-says?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614367/human-genes-not-patentable-supreme-court-says?ft=1&f=1024 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that the mere act of isolating a DNA sequence does not make human genes patentable. Mary-Claire King, who helped discover the breast cancer gene at the center of the court dispute, discusses the ruling and its implications for genetics.

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]]> Sorry, Dr. Oz, Green Coffee Can't Even Slim Down Chubby Mice An extract from raw, green coffee beans has been called a "miracle" weight-loss aid. But a study in mice casts doubt on the supplement's fat-burning effects — and even offers preliminary evidence that it could be harmful. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/14/191540988/sorry-dr-oz-green-coffee-cant-even-slim-down-chubby-mice?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/14/191540988/sorry-dr-oz-green-coffee-cant-even-slim-down-chubby-mice?ft=1&f=1024 An extract from raw, green coffee beans has been called a "miracle" weight-loss aid. But a study in mice casts doubt on the supplement's fat-burning effects — and even offers preliminary evidence that it could be harmful.

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]]> Scientists Go Medieval To Solve Ancient Leprosy Puzzle Looking for clues to to modern-day leprosy, scientists dig up a 500-year-old mass grave and scan for ancient strains of bacteria in human remains. They find that the bacteria that cause leprosy haven't changed, humans have. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/13/191337793/scientists-go-medieval-to-solve-ancient-leprosy-puzzle?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/13/191337793/scientists-go-medieval-to-solve-ancient-leprosy-puzzle?ft=1&f=1024 Looking for clues to to modern-day leprosy, scientists dig up a 500-year-old mass grave and scan for ancient strains of bacteria in human remains. They find that the bacteria that cause leprosy haven't changed, humans have.

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]]> Supreme Court Gene Ruling Splits Hairs Over What's 'Natural' The court said biotech company Myriad could not patent human genes, since they already "existed in nature." But when it comes to synthetic DNA, the court said patents may be acceptable in some cases. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/13/191400438/Supreme-Court-Rules-Against-Patents-On-Human-Genes?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/13/191400438/Supreme-Court-Rules-Against-Patents-On-Human-Genes?ft=1&f=1024 The court said biotech company Myriad could not patent human genes, since they already "existed in nature." But when it comes to synthetic DNA, the court said patents may be acceptable in some cases.

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]]> What Bird Flocks And Fish Schools Can Teach Us About The Future Birds flock. Insects swarm. Fish swim in schools. These are all examples of collective behavior, a concept that has fascinated scientists for decades. For a recent piece in <em>Wired Magazine</em>, science writer Ed Yong explains what this research could tell us about predicting the future. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191348007/what-flocks-of-geese-and-fish-can-teach-us-about-the-future?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191348007/what-flocks-of-geese-and-fish-can-teach-us-about-the-future?ft=1&f=1024 Birds flock. Insects swarm. Fish swim in schools. These are all examples of collective behavior, a concept that has fascinated scientists for decades. For a recent piece in Wired Magazine, science writer Ed Yong explains what this research could tell us about predicting the future.

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]]> Prevention Pill Cuts HIV Risk For Injecting Drug Users Needle sharing and drug use put an estimated 4,000 people at risk for contracting HIV every year. Now, the same medications that are used to treat HIV-positive individuals might also protect the uninfected before they engage in risky behavior. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/13/191314158/prevention-pill-cuts-hiv-risk-for-injecting-drug-users?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/13/191314158/prevention-pill-cuts-hiv-risk-for-injecting-drug-users?ft=1&f=1024 Needle sharing and drug use put an estimated 4,000 people at risk for contracting HIV every year. Now, the same medications that are used to treat HIV-positive individuals might also protect the uninfected before they engage in risky behavior.

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]]> Fancy Feet: Wild Cheetahs Excel At Acceleration Cheetahs don't often hunt at their top speed, scientists are finding. Come mealtime, what matters most is the animals' ability to accelerate and to take tight corners. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:34:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191049647/fancy-feet-wild-cheetahs-excel-at-acceleration?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191049647/fancy-feet-wild-cheetahs-excel-at-acceleration?ft=1&f=1024 Cheetahs don't often hunt at their top speed, scientists are finding. Come mealtime, what matters most is the animals' ability to accelerate and to take tight corners.

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]]> Are American Attitudes Toward Privacy Changing? The ongoing national debate over surveillance prompts us to take a closer look at the way Americans think about their privacy. Several scientific studies show that what Americans say they want in terms of privacy does not match the way they behave. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191226108/are-american-attitudes-toward-privacy-changing?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191226108/are-american-attitudes-toward-privacy-changing?ft=1&f=1024 The ongoing national debate over surveillance prompts us to take a closer look at the way Americans think about their privacy. Several scientific studies show that what Americans say they want in terms of privacy does not match the way they behave.

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]]> AAA Study Finds Hands-Free Tech Dangerously Distracting AAA is warning drivers about the dangers of distracted driving from features that will soon be commonplace in new automobiles. Technology embedded in cars now allow drivers to draft speech-to-text emails, update Facebook and even purchase movie tickets. But research out of the University of Utah shows that drivers experience a high level of distraction while using these features — even when hands are on the wheel and eyes are on the road. Melissa Block speaks with the study leader, David Strayer, about his findings. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=191070344&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=191070344&ft=1&f=1024 AAA is warning drivers about the dangers of distracted driving from features that will soon be commonplace in new automobiles. Technology embedded in cars now allow drivers to draft speech-to-text emails, update Facebook and even purchase movie tickets. But research out of the University of Utah shows that drivers experience a high level of distraction while using these features — even when hands are on the wheel and eyes are on the road. Melissa Block speaks with the study leader, David Strayer, about his findings.

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]]> Chopped: How Amputated Fingertips Sometimes Grow Back Since the 1970s, doctors around the world have reported cases in which young kids regrow fingertips if an accident leaves some of the fingernail. Now scientists have figured out how this lizard-like regeneration happens in mice and suspect the same mechanism works in young humans. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/10/190385484/chopped-how-amputated-fingertips-sometimes-grow-back?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/10/190385484/chopped-how-amputated-fingertips-sometimes-grow-back?ft=1&f=1024 Since the 1970s, doctors around the world have reported cases in which young kids regrow fingertips if an accident leaves some of the fingernail. Now scientists have figured out how this lizard-like regeneration happens in mice and suspect the same mechanism works in young humans.

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]]> Hands-Free Gadgets Don't Mean Risk-Free Driving Systems that turn a driver's speech into text are the most distracting. Drivers in a University of Utah test experienced a kind of inattention blindness that mean they sometimes overlooked potential hazards. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/12/190949902/hands-free-gadgets-in-car-dont-mean-driving-is-risk-free?ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/12/190949902/hands-free-gadgets-in-car-dont-mean-driving-is-risk-free?ft=1&f=1024 Systems that turn a driver's speech into text are the most distracting. Drivers in a University of Utah test experienced a kind of inattention blindness that mean they sometimes overlooked potential hazards.

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