http://discovermagazine.com Science, Technology, and The Future http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/03-sea-change-challenging-biology.s-central-dogma http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/03-sea-change-challenging-biology.s-central-dogma For decades, RNA was seen as a simple slave to DNA. Newer research shows it has an active and critical role in every disease from Alzheimer's to cancer. Gary Taubes http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/03-sea-change-challenging-biology.s-central-dogma/key_image Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:20:00 -0600 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:20:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/02-vital-signs-confusing-cues http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/02-vital-signs-confusing-cues A spreading rash signals something far more dangerous than a skin condition. Stewart Massad http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/02-vital-signs-confusing-cues/key_image Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:35:00 -0600 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:35:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/30-20-things-you-didnt-know-about-sugar http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/30-20-things-you-didnt-know-about-sugar Did you know that most of the sugar you eat comes from beets? And that sugar in deep space may be a chemical precursor to life on Earth? Find out these and more sugary facts. Rebecca Coffey http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/30-20-things-you-didnt-know-about-sugar/key_image Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:10:00 -0500 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/nov/28-the-3d-simulation-that-lets-your-surgeon-practice-on-you http://discovermagazine.com/2009/nov/28-the-3d-simulation-that-lets-your-surgeon-practice-on-you Wouldn't it be great if your surgeon could practice your procedure on a simulated model of your body? Well, thanks to a new technology, they can. Rebecca Day http://discovermagazine.com/2009/nov/28-the-3d-simulation-that-lets-your-surgeon-practice-on-you/key_image Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0500 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/20-future-tech-doctor-on-call-cell-phone-cameras-can-diagnose-disease http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/20-future-tech-doctor-on-call-cell-phone-cameras-can-diagnose-disease Developing nations often have a lack of medical facilities but good cell phones. The CellScope turns the latter into the former. Rebecca Day http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/20-future-tech-doctor-on-call-cell-phone-cameras-can-diagnose-disease/key_image Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:10:00 -0500 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/16-sauerkraut-mustard-relish-cancer http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/16-sauerkraut-mustard-relish-cancer For anyone who thought hot dogs were the healthiest food around, some new research will come as a sad surprise. Boonsri Dickinson http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/16-sauerkraut-mustard-relish-cancer/key_image Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0500 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/15-how-invaders-break-through-brain.s-great-wall http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/15-how-invaders-break-through-brain.s-great-wall Some bacteria pierce the imposing blood-brain barrier by breaking links in the chain; sneakier ones do it by fooling the guard cells. Megan Talkington http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/15-how-invaders-break-through-brain.s-great-wall/key_image Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0500 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/09-era-of-nanoparticle-drugs-begins-with-erection-cream http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/09-era-of-nanoparticle-drugs-begins-with-erection-cream Smaller than viruses, these drug-carrying balls of sugar could deliver any medicine. Researchers are starting with an all-important use: erection cream. Christopher Mims http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/09-era-of-nanoparticle-drugs-begins-with-erection-cream/key_image Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:50:00 -0500 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:50:00 -0500 Web Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/02-is-alzheimers-strange-form-brain-cancer http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/02-is-alzheimers-strange-form-brain-cancer Biochemist Peter Davies suspects the vast majority of research is on the wrong track: The disease is caused by improper cell division, not plaques or tangles. Amy Barth; photograph by Antonin Kratochvil http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/02-is-alzheimers-strange-form-brain-cancer/key_image Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:50:00 -0500 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:50:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/big-idea-beat-cancer-cut-health-care-costs-80-percent http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/big-idea-beat-cancer-cut-health-care-costs-80-percent Paul Ewald says infections are responsible for at least four-fifths of all cancers—and we have the tools to prevent them. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/big-idea-beat-cancer-cut-health-care-costs-80-percent/key_image Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:25:00 -0500 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:25:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/new-rx-for-cancer-ignore-it-sometimes http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/new-rx-for-cancer-ignore-it-sometimes Dr. H. Gilbert Welch says cancer treatments are often worse than the tumors—especially because some of them go away naturally. Andrew Grant; photography by Anne Sherwood http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/new-rx-for-cancer-ignore-it-sometimes/key_image Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:10:00 -0500 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/23-modest-proposal-how-to-stop-aging-entirely http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/23-modest-proposal-how-to-stop-aging-entirely Biologist Aubrey de Grey lays out a plan to stay young forever. Key step: finally winning the war on cancer. Aubrey de Grey and Michael Rae http://discovermagazine.com/2009/new-science-of-health/23-modest-proposal-how-to-stop-aging-entirely/key_image Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:50:00 -0500 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:50:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/21-body-attacks-self-body-protects-self http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/21-body-attacks-self-body-protects-self New studies show promise for using a person's own stem cells to protect them from autoimmune disorders like diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Eliza Strickland http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/21-body-attacks-self-body-protects-self/key_image Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:45:00 -0500 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:45:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/09-is-it-possible-to-systematically-turn-gay-people-straight-straight http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/09-is-it-possible-to-systematically-turn-gay-people-straight-straight Mental health professionals have been trying to "change" homosexuality for decades. How have they done it? And can it ever really work? Melissa Lafsky http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/09-is-it-possible-to-systematically-turn-gay-people-straight-straight/key_image Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:50:00 -0500 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:50:00 -0500 Web Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/04-forget-goggles-chlorophyll-eye-drops-give-night-vision http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/04-forget-goggles-chlorophyll-eye-drops-give-night-vision What the dragonfish discovered through evolution, the U.S. military wants to apply to the battlefield. Melinda Wenner http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/04-forget-goggles-chlorophyll-eye-drops-give-night-vision/key_image Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:20:00 -0500 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:20:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/02-second-coming-of-gene-therapy http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/02-second-coming-of-gene-therapy For years, gene therapy produced tons of hype but no results. Recently, though, new approaches have yielded its first successes: breakthrough treatments for blindness, cancer, and the deadly bubble boy disease. Jill Neimark http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/02-second-coming-of-gene-therapy/key_image Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:35:00 -0500 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:35:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/27-vital-signs-sneaky-pain-fooled-6-experts http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/27-vital-signs-sneaky-pain-fooled-6-experts A sore hip launches a patient on an odyssey through the world of medical care before giving way to a surprisingly simple conclusion. Anna Reisman http://discovermagazine.com/2009/sep/27-vital-signs-sneaky-pain-fooled-6-experts/key_image Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:20:00 -0500 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:20:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/25-swine-flu-was-warning-shot-how-do-better-next-pandemic http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/25-swine-flu-was-warning-shot-how-do-better-next-pandemic This spring we were caught with our public-health pants down. Preparing for the next big threat will be difficult but not impossible. Andrew Moseman http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/25-swine-flu-was-warning-shot-how-do-better-next-pandemic/key_image Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:25:00 -0500 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:25:00 -0500 Web Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/16-numbers-allergies-fecund-ragweed-killer-peanuts http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/16-numbers-allergies-fecund-ragweed-killer-peanuts Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/16-numbers-allergies-fecund-ragweed-killer-peanuts/key_image Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:55:00 -0500 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:55:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/27-vaccine-production-horribly-outdated-3-ways-fix-it http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/27-vaccine-production-horribly-outdated-3-ways-fix-it The process of manufacturing vaccines is slow, expensive, and unreliable. But scientists are developing remarkable new methods to change all that. Allison Bond http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/27-vaccine-production-horribly-outdated-3-ways-fix-it/key_image Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:45:00 -0500 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:45:00 -0500 Web Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/24-what-do-urban-sounds-do-your-brain http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/24-what-do-urban-sounds-do-your-brain A sonic tour of New York, from the agonizing screech of the Union Square subway station to one of the quietest rooms in the city: Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center Jennifer Barone http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/24-what-do-urban-sounds-do-your-brain/key_image Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:10:00 -0500 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/17-slime-city-germs-talk-each-other-plan-attacks http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/17-slime-city-germs-talk-each-other-plan-attacks For 300 years, scientists thought of bacteria as individual killers, like a bunch of piranhas. Recently, we've found that's almost entirely wrong. Wendy Orent http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/17-slime-city-germs-talk-each-other-plan-attacks/key_image Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:20:00 -0500 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:20:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/15-can-medical-students-learn-to-save-real-lives-in-second-life http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/15-can-medical-students-learn-to-save-real-lives-in-second-life Medical and nursing schools are increasingly using Second Life to train their students in diagnoses and treatment. Melissa Lafsky http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/15-can-medical-students-learn-to-save-real-lives-in-second-life/key_image Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Web Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/15-vital-signs-where.s-that-infection http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/15-vital-signs-where.s-that-infection What seems like an ordinary urinary tract infection can sometimes be much worse. Tony Dajer http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/15-vital-signs-where.s-that-infection/key_image Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:45:00 -0500 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:45:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/02-battling-malaria-ninja-style http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/02-battling-malaria-ninja-style In the evolutionary arms race to defeat the disease, subtle and indirect maneuvers like targeting old mosquitoes and locking malaria inside blood cells may ultimately prove most effective. Jeremy Labrecque http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/02-battling-malaria-ninja-style/key_image Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:35:00 -0500 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:35:00 -0500 Print Article