Animals
Having a Dog May Mean Having Extra Microbes
13:30
A stamp can build awareness, but broader use of incentives could help boost blood donations.
A Token Gift May Encourage Gift Of Life
()Some economists argue it's time to rethink restrictions on incentives for blood donors. In the last few years there have been some real-world experiments with incentives that suggest they can help increase donations without causing trouble.
Special Series
Cheap, Fast and Decoded: The $1,000 Human Genome
The cost of deciphering a person's genetic code has dropped faster than the price of flat-screen TVs. That has big implications for health care — and privacy.
Shots - Health News
Abortion Opponents Try to Spin Murder Case Into Legislation()
May 23, 2013 Abortion opponents are hoping the recent murder conviction of Pennsylvania abortion provider Kermit Gosnell will lead to more scrutiny of second trimester abortions. They're working on a bill that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy — nationwide.
Shots - Health News
Why You Have To Scratch That Itch()
May 24, 2013 Itch can be a useful warning sign, or a maddening symptom with no cure. But the origins of itch have long been a mystery. Scientists think they've come closer to understanding the origins of itch in a molecule that makes mice scratch like mad.
The Salt
This 9-Year-Old Girl Told McDonald's CEO: Stop Tricking Kids()
May 23, 2013 Over the years, McDonald's has gotten a lot of flack for marketing to kids. At a shareholders meeting Thursday morning, Hannah Robertson, age 9, took the fast-food giant's CEO to task.
Shots - Health News
Researchers Find Bird Flu Is Contagious Among Ferrets()
May 23, 2013 The virus's ability to move between these mammals might not bode well for humans. So far, it appears that H7N9 doesn't pass easily between people, but it could mutate over time and pose more of a threat.
Shots - Health News
Hardly A Haven: Home Can Be Deadly In Natural Disasters()
May 23, 2013 Despite advances in predicting dangerous weather and better evacuation planning, some people still stay put when devastation looms. A study of deaths during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 raises a big question: Why didn't the people at risk move to higher ground?
Shots - Health News
Errors In Stem-Cell Cloning Paper Raise Doubts()
May 23, 2013 Biologists said last week that they had overcome a major obstacle in stem-cell research by cloning human embryos. But several images in the published study were duplicated and labeled incorrectly, prompting questions about the authenticity of the results.
The Two-Way
3-D Printer Makes Life-Saving Splint For Baby Boy's Airway()
May 23, 2013 A 3-D printer is being credited with helping to save an Ohio baby's life, after doctors "printed" a tube to support a weak airway that caused him to stop breathing. The innovative procedure has allowed Kaiba Gionfriddo, of Youngstown, Ohio, to stay off a ventilator for more than a year.
The Salt
Canned Peaches Are As Nutritious As Fresh. Really? ()
May 23, 2013 What's more, when it comes to some nutrients, like vitamin C, canned peaches pack an even bigger punch than fresh, researchers say. The reasons have to do with how the canning process alters the fruit's cell walls. So eat 'em up!
Shots - Health News
Antidepressant May Protect The Heart Against Mental Stress()
May 23, 2013 When researchers challenged people with heart disease to perform some stressful tasks, those who took a popular antidepressant had fewer symptoms related to low blood flow to the heart. The findings, though preliminary, suggest another avenue for treatment.
Shots - Health News
Scientific Tooth Fairies Investigate Neanderthal Breast-Feeding()
May 23, 2013 Our closest relatives, chimpanzees and gorillas, breast-feed their offspring for several years. Some baby orangutans nurse until they are 7 years old. Researchers found a way to test ancient teeth for clues about when humans cut nursing short.
