Orion Jones

The rule of reciprocation is deeply rooted in our behavior such that we return the favor even when we don’t want to. The behavior has helped our species survive by creating community.

A new handheld medical device that non-invasively measures your vital signs could replace visits to the doctor with digital diagnoses. The machine is modeled on Star Trek’s tricorder.

Doctors and medical professionals critical of patents on individual human genes have won their day before the Supreme Court, arguing that monopolies on scientific research are harmful.

Elementary health metrics such as a mother’s body weight and whether she smokes have helped researchers build a formula that predicts childhood obesity rates with 80 percent success.

Despite anecdotal evidence to the contrary, the flu shot makes it less likely that you will contract the flu. Studies show that we have a particularly strong mental reaction to getting a flu vaccine. 

A new meta-study out of Harvard suggests that salt and chemical preservatives in meats like bacon, salami and hot dogs are worse for your health than the same amount of red meat.

Several case studies suggest that the absence of non-verbal communication cues and a tendency to idealize online relationships can result in symptoms of psychosis.

Despite our growing understanding of how the human brain works, myths persist among the public at large and even among educators who express an interest in neuroscience. 

New “deep-learning” software helps computers recognize patterns in large data sets the same way the human brain recognizes patterns in the world. The result has been much better A.I.

The Guardian’s Oliver Burkeman explains why new age authors like Deepak Chopra shouldn’t be ignored because they are labeled as pseudoscience. Wisdom needn’t be scientific, says Burkeman. 

Neuroscientists at MIT and Boston University have located pairs of neuron ensembles that oscillate differently depending on which thought is being entertained, illuminating a mystery of cognition.

New research out of Canada has found a genetic link between being obese and having lower incidents of depression. Researchers speculate there is an evolutionary reason for the connection. 

By analyzing population records kept during the 19th century by the Finnish government, researchers have concluded that having an older sibling was beneficial and detrimental, depending on one’s age. 

A new electronic device which connects directly a blind patient’s retinas allows the individual to read input, in the form of braille, as actual words with a high rate of success. 

New studies conducted at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management suggest that feelings of guilt increase the amount of pleasure we receive from indulging our desires. 

By taking cues from nature, biologists are working to create freeze-dried stores of blood and vaccine supplies, possibly transforming the fight against disease and the shape of global health. 

Economist Nassim Nicholas Taleb, one of the strongest critics of economic policy preceding the 2007 financial crash, says we should embrace volatility, not protect ourselves against it. 

The ironic disposition of today’s youth is a response to excessive material wealth and excessive choice, argues Princeton’s Christy Wampole, arguing a better civic life is within our grasp.

New images unearthed from Albert Einstein’s autopsy suggest his genius had strong roots in the biology of his brain, specifically in the folds of his cerebral cortex, says anthropologist Dean Falk. 

A team of Dutch scientists have discovered where in the brain the meaning of words are created. Further study could help doctors identify awareness in people with cognitive disorders. 

New research suggests that living in the moment, rather than being preoccupied with outside concerns, can extend the life of your body’s DNA and keep it from aging prematurely. 

By virtually exposing soldiers to the harsh conditions of war before their deployment, stress-reduction strategies can taught in real time as psychological dilemmas arise in laboratory settings.

England’s highest health bodies have renewed their call for vigilance in the fight to keep antibiotics effective at killing harmful bacteria, comparing the magnitude of the problem to global warming. 

Simply being self-aware may prove the best kind of preventative medicine: A new study has found that regular meditation works to reduce instances of death, heart attack and stroke by nearly half.

What’s the Latest Development? How effective can a smartphone app really be at improving your health? That depends, but some app producers are making claims so outlandish that regulators say […]

Biomedical engineers have successfully modeled a debilitating lung conditions using microchips to mimic how the human lung works, creating hope for new testing methods. 

A new paper says the “rogue planet” is drifting in space about 100 light-years away from Earth, raising speculations as to how many others are out there.

Brazilian scientists have been working on gathering the necessary materials to clone endangered species, but conservationists fear it distracts from existing habitat protection.

The travel site has released Neighborhoods, a search feature that gives tourists details on specific areas in the cities they’re visiting.

There are 17 days left to submit an entry to the White House’s Health Design Challenge, in which designers are invited to change the current unwieldy, text-heavy electronic medical record format.