An app uses a smartphone camera to detect leukocoria, a pale reflection from the back of the eye. It can be an early sign of disease. Here it appears light brown compared the healthy eye. Munson et al., Sci. Adv. 2019; 5 eaax 6363 hide caption
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The good old reflex hammer (like this Taylor model) might seem like an outdated medical device, but its role in diagnosing disease is still as important as ever. Meredith Rizzo/NPR hide caption
A saliva test allowed scientists to accurately predict how long concussion symptoms would last in children. technotr/Getty Images hide caption
Pathologists use slides like this one to look for signs of cancer in breast tissue. Boilershot Photo/Science Source hide caption
Dr. Allan Ropper speaks with residents and fellows as they do rounds at the neuroscience intensive care unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. M. Scott Brauer for NPR hide caption
An artist's illustration shows lung cancer cells lurking among healthy air sacs. David Mack/Science Source hide caption
Is Oprah Winfrey a celebrity for the ages? Surian Soosay/Flickr hide caption
Despite significant advances in neurology and imaging, researchers still don't have simple lab tests for diagnosing patients with mental disorders. Diagnoses are still mostly based on a patient's signs and symptoms. BSIP/UIG via Getty Images hide caption
A miniature ninja throwing star or a surgical device? The microgripper, shown here coming out of a catheter tube, is activated by body heat. The sharp appendages fold up when the device warms up. Evin Gultepe, Gracias Lab, Johns Hopkins University. hide caption
The British have long said, "Keep calm and carry on." But the catchphrase may need an update for health care. Keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk hide caption
Doctors used a type of MRI test to look at the blood vessels in the brain of a woman with dystextia. The test confirmed she was suffering from a stroke on the right side of her brain Archives of Neurology hide caption