You may have seen the label, “B.P.A.-free” on the packaging of plastic products such as baby bottles or reusable water bottles. Perhaps you have also seen or read news reports discussing the potential health hazards from BPA exposure. Scientists have been investigating the effect of a common chemical, bisphenol A or BPA, which has long been considered safe, on people’s health… Continue reading The BPA Controversy: Can a plastic really make you sick?

At the Beijing Olympics, 25 new swimming world records were set; the only Olympics at which more records were broken was in 1976, when goggles were used for the first time. At this year’s Olympics, in addition to U.S. phenomenon Michael Phelps, a new technology has been under the spotlight: Speedo’s LZR Racer supersuit. Not only does this suit have a futuristic, spacesuit-like appearance, but it also enabled astounding performances by swimmers who wore it. Since its launch in February of this year, swimmers wearing the LZR Racer have set 62 world records (as of August 14, 2008). Of the swimmers who set new records in Beijing, all but one wore the LZR Racer swimsuit… Continue reading The Rocket Swimsuit: Speedo's LZR Racer

Over a century ago, Dr. Ronald Ross won a Nobel Prize for his discovery that mosquitoes transmit the parasites that cause malaria. Since that time, a growing problem in South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia is the number of malarial parasites which are resistant to existing anti-malaria drugs. Understanding exactly how malaria parasites invade and infect human blood cells will allow scientists and physicians to develop novel anti-malaria drugs and vaccines in order to thwart drug-resistant parasites… Continue reading A Rigid Insight into a Deadly Malaria Parasite

We are constantly exposed to foreign agents in the environment, such as bacteria, viruses and allergens, which can make us sick. But, although we are seldom aware of it, our immune system is constantly working to protect us. However, sometimes the immune system turns against our own cells and organs… Continue reading The War Within: Fighting Autoimmune Diseases

As news of Senator Ted Kennedy’s diagnosis of malignant glioma traveled throughout the country and beyond, it was an opportunity for people to learn more about an otherwise rare form of cancer… Continue reading The Love-Hate Relationship with Glial Cells

As energy sources wane, the price of oil rises, and climate change becomes a global issue, nations have begun to evaluate alternative energy sources… Continue reading The Hidden Cost of Biofuels

What can earthworms, salamanders, some fish, and some frogs do that mammals (such as humans) cannot? If you said that they can all regenerate extensive parts of their bodies after amputation, you are correct! Continue reading One Step Closer to Regenerating Limbs

Almost 50 years ago the combined oral contraceptive pill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in preventing pregnancy, ushering in a new era of hormonally-based birth control. Now, in addition to the original “Pill” women can chose from an overwhelming variety of oral contraceptives, from different hormone combinations and doses to different Pill schedules that result in skipping or stopping menstruation entirely. Most of us have heard that the Pill contains hormones that suppress ovulation, but how does this really work? And with the recent marketing of Lybrel — a Pill designed to stop menstrual cycling entirely — we might wonder how far we can reasonably take this hormonal control. Simply put, how does the mechanism of oral contraceptives guide us in their use, and what (if any) are the repercussions of eliminating menstruation?… Continue reading Taming the Cycle: How Does the Pill Work?

Building a brain is a complicated business. During the development of the human brain, billions of cells are born, orderly migrate to their appropriate locations, and synthesize connections with other cells near and far. Years ago, scientists discovered that, counter-intuitively, assembling a brain requires a great deal of disassembly… Continue reading Immune Proteins Sculpt the Brain… for Better or Worse

Genetically modified organisms, such as tomatoes and rice, have been around for several decades now, although the controversies surrounding this technology are still unresolved. The engineering behind genetically modified foods involves the manipulation or transfer of individual genes from one species to another. For example, so-called “golden rice” was created to boost the nutritional value of standard rice by inserting three genes that increase the production of beta carotene, which in our bodies is converted into Vitamin A. The emerging field of “synthetic biology” takes this genetic manipulation to a whole new level… Continue reading The Emerging Field of Synthetic Biology: "Syn" or Salvation?