Health & Medicine / Stem Cell Research

Turning Lymph Nodes Into Liver-Growing Factories

If your liver fails, having 40 small but functional livers scattered around your body might be the next best thing. 04.11.2012

#64: Stem Cell Research Hits More Painful Setbacks

Scientists had high hopes for reprogrammed stem cells, which could be derived from a patient's own tissue and grown into any type of cell in the body. But two studies this year highlighted major issues with reprogrammed cells, making their path to the clinic look longer than ever. 01.05.2012

#43: Skin Cells Could Help Revive Rare Species

Turning them into eggs and sperm, courtesy of stem cell techniques, could make all the difference. 12.22.2011

Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul; Skin Is a Window to the Brain

A personalized source of stem cells could help find safer, more effective treatments for mental disorders. 10.25.2011

How Pig Guts Became the Next Bright Hope for Regenerating Human Limbs

A remarkable substance 
extracted from pigs enables the body to 
regenerate lost tissue, including fingertips and big chunks of muscle. And that may not be all it can do... 09.26.2011

5 Questions for the Creator of Truly Potent Stem Cells

Jacob Hanna is headed back to his homeland, Israel, as one of the youngest leaders in one of science's hottest fields. 05.14.2011

How to Grow a New Lung

One key is getting rid of the donor's pesky cells, leaving the some critical structures behind. 01.27.2011

The 100 Top Science Stories of 2010

Every year DISCOVER sorts through the scientific accomplishments of the past 12 months, and assembles a list of the coolest experiments, most brilliant discoveries, and most world-changing events. As you page through the countdown to the #1 science story, we think you'll come to the same conclusion we did: 2010 was quite a year. 12.16.2010

5 Questions for the Stem-Cell Maestro

Sarah Heilshorn uses new methods to try to heal brain and spine injuries once thought of as untreatable. 12.04.2010

8 Ways to Restore Eyesight to the Blind

Tiny telescopes, gene therapy, and more: Medical researchers are developing high-tech ways to treat blindness. 11.09.2010

Millions of Patients Will Benefit From Advances in Genetic Engineering & Stem Cell Science

Biologist Ian Wilmut on his hopes for science over the next 30 years 09.14.2010

#4: Stem Cell Science Takes Off

Obama brought a big policy improvement, and researchers made big leaps with the science. 01.25.2010

Have We Entered the Stem Cell Era?

Treatments for cancer, blood diseases, and even HIV are finally realizing some of the potential for stem-cell medicine. 12.14.2009

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. 09.21.2009

The 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. 09.02.2009

Evolution by Intelligent Design

Bioengineers will likely control the future of humans as a species. 02.02.2009

#16: Researchers Produce Human Blood from Stem Cells

It's not quite the same, but lab-generated blood gets the job done. 12.19.2008

#17: Cell Reprogramming Could Help Cure Diabetes—and Other Diseases

Stem-cell guru says reprogramming adult cells might actually work better. 12.19.2008

20 Best Brains Under 40

Young innovators are changing everything from theoretical mathematics to cancer therapy. 11.20.2008

I'll Have My Burger Petri-Dish Bred, With Extra Omega-3

How researchers can make meat that's better for you—and better for animals. 09.22.2008

Fighting for the Right to Clone

Stem cell and cloning guru Robert Lanza has battled the Catholic Church, the White House, and violent protesters. 08.19.2008

How to Teach Science to the Pope

The Vatican keeps close tabs on the latest science—and integrates new research into its modern theology. 08.18.2008

The Man Who Lost His Name—and His Genetic Identity

Eric Drew miraculously recovered from both cancer and identity theft. 04.09.2008

In Election Year, Stem Cell Question Grows Still Gnarlier

Bush says he won the war, but the prez ain't seen nothin' yet. 03.03.2008

Science That the Government Doesn't Want to Exist

Stem-cell research lurches along through roadblocks and red tape. 10.19.2007

Babies from Bone Marrow

Another potential use for stem cells: procreation. 06.15.2007

Immortality, One Cell at a Time

Can a chemical cocktail turn any old adult cell into a stem cell? 10.11.2006

Blinded by Science: Who's Freaky Now?

How abhorrence and attraction affect our bioethical judgment. 10.11.2006

The Discover Interview: David Baltimore

The retiring president of Caltech delivers some straight talk on AIDS research, celebrity science, and his role in one of the most talked-about fraud scandals of the past 25 years. 09.01.2006

Hating Human Hybrids

The case for chimeras 05.28.2006

Second Act For Stem Cells

Second Act For Stem Cells 04.27.2006

Can Stem Cells Save Dying Hearts?

Just ask this pig 09.09.2005

Discover Dialogue: Biochemist Paul Berg

I'm an experimentalist, and the only way I can tell you if it works is to try it 04.28.2005

The Good Egg

Determining when life begins is complicated by a process that unfolds months before a sperm meets an egg 05.29.2004

Medicine

01.02.2004

Medicine

01.01.2003

Medicine

Year In Science 01.13.2002

A New Red Line

11.01.1999

The Mother of All Blood Cells

Stem cells, capable of generating an endless supply of red cells, white cells, and platelets, have also generated a heated scientific controversy--and millions of dollars for the man who claims to have found them. 03.01.1995