In ancient times (and still today in many parts of the world) people consulted fortune tellers or astrologers to predict their future.  In the modern scientific era, however, people have stopped consulting the stars in the heavens, and instead are beginning to consult the genes in their bodies as a way of predicting their future...Read More

Researchers at UCLA have completed a study that suggests performing tai chi on a regular basis may help ward off shingles – a viral infection that causes a painful rash that can lead to complications.  Shingles is caused by the virus herpes zoster, which is the virus that causes chicken pox.  Adults who have had...Read More

A report presented at the American Heart Association’s 8th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology suggests that college students who drink heavily may be setting themselves up for heart problems later on in life.  The research measured levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in college students who had different drinking patterns (CRP is a...Read More

When I was doing research for my book The Human Odyssey, I was surprised at how few organizations there were out there actively working to meet the developmental needs of adolescents.  With all the problems of adolescence — gang violence, eating disorders, unwanted pregnancies, STDs, depression and suicide, school drop-out, and substance abuse among others...Read More

Scientists at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California reported in the journal Nature that they have discovered the existence of a genetic pathway in roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans) that appears to extend their lives when their caloric intake has been reduced.  This finding may have implications for human longevity.  It’s been known for some time...Read More