The biodiversity picture in the region known as the "lungs of the Earth" contradicts commonly held views relating to extinction in that area. New research outlines that the risk of extinction for plants is higher in countries close to the

Modern day concentrations of ground level ozone pollution are decreasing the growth of trees in the northern and temperate mid-latitudes, according to new research. Tree growth, measured in biomass, is already 7% less than the late 1800s, and this is

Researchers have shown in mice how and under what circumstances the gut activates its defensive mechanisms to prevent illness.

A trio of pole-climbing serpentine robots are designed to take the place of construction workers tasked with dangerous jobs such as inspecting high-rises or underwater bridge piers. The autonomous robots are designed to climb scaffolding and buildings by wrapping around

Scientists at Toshiba's Corporate Research and Development Center in Japan have developed a system that offers shoppers advice on what to buy based on the product barcode and the current weblog buzz around the gadget. The team describes the system

The fast pace of growing computing power could be sustained for many years to come with new advances in magnetic semiconductors.

Traditional classroom teaching in higher education could learn a thing or two from online teaching, otherwise known as e-learning, according to a professor who studies computer-mediated communication, information exchange and the Internet.

Approximately 38 percent of adults in the United States aged 18 years and over and nearly 12 percent of U.S. children aged 17 years and under use some form of complementary and alternative medicine, according to a new nationwide government

An examination of unintentional overdose deaths in West Virginia, a state that has experienced one of the highest increases in the rate of drug overdose deaths, finds that the majority of these were associated with the nonmedical use and diversion

Scientists have demonstrated that sugar can be an addictive substance, wielding its power over the brains of lab animals in a manner similar to many drugs of abuse. Researchers found profound behavioral changes in rats that, through experimental conditions, have

People who have a sibling with a mental illness are more likely to suffer episodes of depression at some point in their lives, say researchers who analyzed four decades of data.

Smokers who carry a particular version of a gene for an enzyme that regulates dopamine in the brain may suffer from concentration problems and other cognitive deficits when abstaining from nicotine -- a problem that puts them at risk for

Given the high incidence and prevalence of cancer in older adults and the anticipated growth of this population over the next few decades, oncologists, geriatricians and primary care providers will be challenged to provide timely and appropriate post-treatment care to

A pediatric neuroscientist has shown that genetically disrupting a specific gene in a fruit fly's brain will wipe out its long-term memory. The researcher has also found a class of drugs that helps fruit flies with this disrupted gene to

Cholinesterase inhibitors, used to treat cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, are also a safe and effective alternative therapy for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, according to a study in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging.

A preliminary study suggests that economic incentives appear to be effective for achieving short-term weight loss.

New research indicates that working memory is a key component of math anxiety. These findings suggest that worrying about a situation (such as solving an arithmetic problem in front of a group of people) takes up the working memory that

Treatment times for amblyopia -- more commonly known as 'lazy eye' -- could be drastically reduced because of new research.

In this policy brief, the authors examine why low-income teenagers are almost three times more likely to be obese than teens from more affluent households. Specifically, persistent barriers to health were found, including high numbers of neighborhood fast food restaurants,