Molly Fosco

Read the latest articles by Molly Fosco at Seeker

Liz O. Baylen/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Medicine

Health

In the fight against America’s opioid epidemic, many efforts are focused on treating addiction.

A New Opioid Drug Could Provide Pain Relief Without the Risk of Addiction

For the first time in a half a century, life expectancy in the United States declined for the second year in a row — and America’s opioid epidemic is to blame.

An Opioid Vaccine Developed by the US Military Could Combat Addiction

Behavior

Earth & Conservation

What if it were possible to stop anyone from overeating, from injecting heroine, or from drinking too much?

A Zap to the Brain Could Head Off Impulsive Urges

As parents collect gifts for their young children this holiday season, they may want to consider limiting the number of toys.

Here's Why Having Many Toys Could Be a Problem for Children

Space & Innovation

The US Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the case of Gill v. Whitford to decide if re-mapping state voting districts can result in gerrymandering that is so unfair to the minority political party, it violates the US Constitution.

An Unbiased Algorithm Could Help Put an End to Partisan Gerrymandering

Animals

New research finds that the number and variety of bugs in our living space depends on several hard-to-control factors, none of which have to do with how tidy we are.

Here’s Where Bugs Are Likely to Live in Your Home

The Swim

Conservation

Over the last six decades, according to one estimate, 9.1 billion tons of plastic has been produced worldwide and 7 billion tons of it has ended up as waste.

These 10 Rivers Are Responsible for 90 Percent of the Plastic in the Oceans

More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, a disease for which there is no known cure.

Transfusions of Young Blood Yield Promising Results in Alzheimer’s Patients

A new analysis of 1.5 million medical papers shows studies co-authored by women are more likely to address gender and sex differences when it comes to disease risk.

Women Are More Likely to Consider Sex and Gender in Disease Risk Studies

Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide threat to human health and survival.

New Discoveries Bring Hope to the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance

“On the one hand, we know that alcohol consumption has negative effects on executive functioning and cognitive functioning which is necessary for language production,” Fritz Renner, lead author and a post-doctoral student in emotional disorders at the University of Cambridge, told Seeker.

Alcohol Consumption Appears to Improve Foreign Language Skills

Take a closer look at the medical news and discoveries impacting our health and wellbeing.

Health News, Headlines and Videos

Weed smokers are often stereotyped as being lethargic, unmotivated, and more likely to be Netflix and chilling on a Friday night than out on the dance floor.

A New Opioid Drug Could Provide Pain Relief Without the Risk of Addiction

Researchers have developed an opioid compound that targets specific pain receptors in cells, but without producing the addictive qualities typical of currently available drugs.

An Opioid Vaccine Developed by the US Military Could Combat Addiction

Life expectancy in the United States declined for the second year in a row due to an opioid epidemic, but a new vaccine shows promising results in mice and rats.

A Zap to the Brain Could Head Off Impulsive Urges

In experiments on mice, Stanford University researchers found a “moment of weakness” that occurred in the brain just before binge eating — and a zap of electricity successfully prevented the mice from overeating.

Here's Why Having Many Toys Could Be a Problem for Children

As the holiday season gets into swing, behavioral science experts suggest that too many toys can negatively affect attention spans and creativity in kids.

An Unbiased Algorithm Could Help Put an End to Partisan Gerrymandering

Three psychology researchers have taken it upon themselves to solve the nationwide problem of partisan gerrymandering using a computer algorithm.

Here’s Where Bugs Are Likely to Live in Your Home

A study of home interiors found that the environment rather than residents’ lifestyles seems to determine where bugs are likely to thrive.

These 10 Rivers Are Responsible for 90 Percent of the Plastic in the Oceans

As plastic in the world’s oceans continues to rise, researchers are pinpointing sources of pollution so that conservation efforts can stem the flow.

Transfusions of Young Blood Yield Promising Results in Alzheimer’s Patients

A Stanford study found that patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s seemed to improve after getting plasma transfusions from young people.

Women Are More Likely to Consider Sex and Gender in Disease Risk Studies

Medical studies authored by women are more likely to include an analysis of sex and gender effects than studies where women researchers didn't take part.

New Discoveries Bring Hope to the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance

Key insights into how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics could reverse the process and renew the efficacy of commonly prescribed medications.

Alcohol Consumption Appears to Improve Foreign Language Skills

In a new study, learners of Dutch who consumed about a pint of beer were rated higher on their speaking ability than those who didn’t consume alcohol.

Pot Smokers Have More Sex, Study Finds

Stanford researchers found that marijuana users have sex 20 percent more often than non-pot smokers, regardless of age, education, or marital status.

A New Opioid Drug Could Provide Pain Relief Without the Risk of Addiction

Researchers have developed an opioid compound that targets specific pain receptors in cells, but without producing the addictive qualities typical of currently available drugs.

An Opioid Vaccine Developed by the US Military Could Combat Addiction

Life expectancy in the United States declined for the second year in a row due to an opioid epidemic, but a new vaccine shows promising results in mice and rats.

A Zap to the Brain Could Head Off Impulsive Urges

In experiments on mice, Stanford University researchers found a “moment of weakness” that occurred in the brain just before binge eating — and a zap of electricity successfully prevented the mice from overeating.

Here's Why Having Many Toys Could Be a Problem for Children

As the holiday season gets into swing, behavioral science experts suggest that too many toys can negatively affect attention spans and creativity in kids.

An Unbiased Algorithm Could Help Put an End to Partisan Gerrymandering

Three psychology researchers have taken it upon themselves to solve the nationwide problem of partisan gerrymandering using a computer algorithm.

Here’s Where Bugs Are Likely to Live in Your Home

A study of home interiors found that the environment rather than residents’ lifestyles seems to determine where bugs are likely to thrive.

These 10 Rivers Are Responsible for 90 Percent of the Plastic in the Oceans

As plastic in the world’s oceans continues to rise, researchers are pinpointing sources of pollution so that conservation efforts can stem the flow.

Transfusions of Young Blood Yield Promising Results in Alzheimer’s Patients

A Stanford study found that patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s seemed to improve after getting plasma transfusions from young people.

Women Are More Likely to Consider Sex and Gender in Disease Risk Studies

Medical studies authored by women are more likely to include an analysis of sex and gender effects than studies where women researchers didn't take part.

New Discoveries Bring Hope to the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance

Key insights into how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics could reverse the process and renew the efficacy of commonly prescribed&nbsp;medications.

Alcohol Consumption Appears to Improve Foreign Language Skills

In a new study, learners of Dutch who consumed about a pint of beer were rated higher on their speaking ability than those who didn’t consume alcohol.

Pot Smokers Have More Sex, Study Finds

Stanford researchers found that marijuana users have sex 20 percent more often than non-pot smokers, regardless of age, education, or marital status.

Key insights into how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics could reverse the process and renew the efficacy of commonly prescribed medications.