Science

The Miracle Drug That Kills All Cancers

It sounds like science fiction, but researchers have discovered a single drug that they think can shrink, or even completely cure, all human tumours. But how does a drug like that work, and when will it be available?


March 22, 2012
Science

Aspirin Doesn’t Just Cut Cancer Risk, It Stops It Spreading Too

It’s old news that aspirin can reduce cancer risk, but a new study conducted at the University of Oxford suggests that it can stop the spread of cancer in patients who already have the disease, too.


February 9, 2012
Science

The Miraculous NASA Breakthrough That Could Save Millions Of Lives

There are no hospitals in space. The closest E.R. is back on Earth, and astronauts can’t exactly jump in a cab to get there. So what happens if the sun burps out a massive blast of radiation while an astronaut is space-amblin’ by?


February 7, 2012
Science

How Tomatoes Could Curb Cancer In Italy

I lived in Italy for nearly 20 years, and it’s difficult to imagine Italians tolerating anyone tampering with their precious tomato, the main ingredient in their all-important “gravy”. But they seem to be OK with the newfangled “Realtomato” showing up in their caprese salads and Margherita pizzas.


February 3, 2012
Science

This Nine-Year-Old Girl Just Had Six Of Her Organs Replaced—That’s A Record

When she was five, Alannah Shevenell’s doctors discovered the cause of her fever, weight loss, and distended belly — a sizable tumour spreading throughout her body. After two failed surgeries and rounds of chemo, her doctors had just one option left; a risky surgery to replace six of her cancerous organs.


Science

Scientists Transform Deadly Plant Into Cancer-Killing Smart Bomb

The ancient Greeks called the thapsia garganica plant “deadly carrot”, because their camels would eat it and quickly die. The Roman emperor Nero mixed it with frankincense to treat bruises. Until the early 20th century, it was used in a plaster to treat rheumatism — the side effects, however, were barely worth the cure.


January 18, 2012
Science

How Cancer Drugs Make Cancer Worse

You’d think that a tumour shrinking would be considered good news for anyone suffering from cancer. Maybe not. Scientists have found that a type of cancer treatment aimed at shrinking tumours can actually make them spread more efficiently and kill patients quicker.


January 17, 2012
Science

Scientists Use Spectroscopy To Study Black Holes, Stars, And Now Cervixes

Scientists use spectroscopy to examine the makeup of celestial objects. Now they’re taking the technology in a decidedly different direction and using it to detect ovarian cancer.


January 11, 2012
Science

Study: Nicotine Is Good For You

Nicotine patches significantly improved attention and memory in older people suffering from mild cognitive impairment, which often leads to Alzheimer’s, according to a new study.


December 15, 2011
Science

A Miracle Drug Keeps This 70-Year-Old Cancer Patient Running Marathons

Don Wright was diagnosed with myeloma — cancer in his blood cells and bone marrow — two weeks after running his first marathon. His doctor gave him a five-year survival estimate. Eight years later he has run 59 26.2-mile races in 41 states and takes just one pill per day to keep his cancer at bay.