Category Archives: Medicine

Biochemistry, Medicine, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Psychology, Science, Technology, Weird

Pentagon Researches Ways to Boost Learning in Soldiers

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Eight U.S. Department of Defense brain studies, one at Arizona State University, are investigating ways to help soldiers learn more efficiently.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) hopes not just to make better sharpshooters, but also to shorten training periods for translators, analysts and cryptographers — and, perhaps, to improve outcomes for soldiers with brain injury and memory loss.

Read/listen to my full story at KJZZ’s Arizona Science Desk:
U.S. Department Of Defense Brain Study Seeks To Boost Learning In Soldiers

Biochemistry, Climatology and Meteorology, Health, Medicine, Psychology

Take Summer Headaches Seriously, Warns Neurologist

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“The Headache” by George Cruikshank.

Between the heat, dehydration, air quality and July 4 fireworks, many Arizonans shrug off headaches as just another symptom of summer.

But Kerry Knievel, director of headache neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute, said we need to start taking headaches more seriously.

Read/listen to my full story at KJZZ’s Arizona Science Desk:
Neurologist: Don’t Shrug Off Summer Headaches

Biochemistry, Computing, Consumer, Electromagnetism, Engineering, Gadgets, Health, Internet, Medicine, Science, Technology, Weapons

Doctor-Hackers Warn of Medical Device Security Flaws

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Image by Lucien Monfils.

Members of the medical and hacker communities are raising concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting medical records, infrastructure and devices.

Experts have long warned of security flaws in medical devices — insulin pumps that can deliver deadly doses, for example. Many devices include wireless connectivity capability.

Read/listen to my full story at KJZZ’s Arizona Science Desk:
Doctor-Hackers Raise Awareness Of Medical Device Vulnerabilities

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Is Progress Outpacing Precaution? Experts Weigh In

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Illustration by An Arres.

No one expects the machinery of progress to roll backwards, but sometimes it seems that no one is watching the speedometer (or manning the brakes, assuming any exist).  Is this a fair assessment? If so, should we be worried — and what can we do about it?

In this feature, experts on technology, risk, science, policy and neuroscience discuss risk, innovation and how our values affect our conceptions of both.

Read/listen to my full story at KJZZ’s Arizona Science Desk:
ASU Experts Weigh the Risks of Innovation

Biochemistry, Genetics, Medicine, Science, Technology

Genome Map Hints at How Desert Tortoise Overcomes Natural, Human Dangers

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Photo by Sandra Leander, Arizona State University.

Researchers have finished the first full genome map of the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), also known as Agassiz’s desert tortoise.

They hope their findings will inform conservation efforts, improve understanding of its evolutionary past and potentially contribute  to  human medicine.

Read/listen to my full story at KJZZ’s Arizona Science Desk:
Desert Tortoise Genome Reveals Genetic Keys to Surviving Harsh Conditions, Threats