Dec 15 College students almost engineer controversial gene drive By Ike Swetlitz, STAT It’s a technology that could fundamentally alter entire populations, so how did a group of college students almost create a gene drive?… Continue reading
Dec 14 4 in 10 babies born after Zika infection may have brain defects, researchers say By Helen Branswell, STAT The toll that Zika virus takes on pregnancies appears to be even higher than was previously estimated. Continue reading
Dec 13 Watch 7:00 How the big biomedical bill advances U.S. mental health care By PBS News Hour Most of the attention around the biomedical bill President Obama signed on Tuesday has focused on faster drug approval and new money for research. But included within the massive piece of legislation are measures for mental health care. William Brangham… Continue watching
Dec 13 Watch 3:12 News Wrap: EPA finds fracking can contaminate underground water in some cases By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Dec 12 Watch ‘Repeal and replace’? More like repeal and collapse, warns HHS Secretary Burwell By PBS News Hour During the presidential campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare.” But undoing the law and creating a new one may be more difficult than his campaign rhetoric suggested. Judy Woodruff… Continue watching
Dec 12 Herbal drug kratom faces uncertain legal future, despite public outpouring By Michelle Harven Kratom, a leafy-green herbal supplement used by an estimated 3 to 5 million Americans, has inspired tens of thousands of responses in a public comment period over its possible controlled substance designation by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Continue reading
Dec 12 After health-care repeal vote, some in GOP fear a cliff By Alan Fram, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Republicans are eagerly planning initial votes next month on dismantling President Barack Obama's health care law, a cherished GOP goal. But many worry that while Congress tries to replace it, the party will face ever-angrier voters, spooked health… Continue reading
Dec 11 In a land of thundering reindeer, suicide stalks the indigenous Sami By Melody Schreiber, STAT Suicide is a growing problem among the indigenous Sami of Sweden. Many work as reindeer herders, and feel acute anxiety about the effects of climate change. Continue reading
Dec 10 Trump win could boost movement to confer ‘personhood’ on fertilized eggs By Rebecca Robbins, STAT The push to confer full “personhood” on every fertilized human egg has been rejected in state after state, but activists are cautiously hopeful that their cause could soon get a boost. Continue reading
Dec 09 ‘Protect Our Care’ group plans to push back against repeal of health law By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Supporters of the 2010 health care law will launch a political coalition Friday to block its repeal. They're targeting Republican lawmakers whose constituents may now be at risk of losing health insurance. Continue reading