Nancy Shute
Science News
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Nancy:
The Periodic Table
2019 is the 150th anniversary of the periodic table. These stories celebrate its past, present and future. → Read More
What A Global Flavor Map Can Tell Us About How We Pair Foods
If you think all American food tastes alike, you may be on to something. A chemical analysis of flavors around the world found that Americans cook with flavors that are chemically similar, like eggs, milk, and vanilla, while East Asians go for chemical contrast. Think shrimp and lemon. → Read More
Spore Wars Help Fend Off Life-Threatening Bacterial Infections
Infections with C. difficile are a big problem for people in hospitals and nursing homes. An experimental treatment with spores from a harmless version of the bacterium prevented new infections. → Read More
Restaurant Grease As Good As Gold To Biofuel Thieves
Grease rustling is on the rise, as thieves make off with used restaurant grease. The goo left over from deep-fat frying is prized on the biofuels market. As fuel prices go up, so does the price of recycled grease. → Read More
How many scientists do you know in real life?
Editor in Chief Nancy Shute ponders about memorable scientists and how we can make it easier for people to connect to their work. → Read More
Poll: Doctors Are Still Prescribing Lots Of Opioids For Low Back Pain
More than half of Americans suffer lower back pain each year, the latest NPR/Truven Health Analytics survey finds. And they're often not going for treatments recommended as safest and most effective. → Read More
Why it’s great to have a geologist in the house
Editor in Chief Nancy Shute enthuses about learning how ancient plans may have helped make Earth muddy. → Read More
Neurologists Warn Against ADHD Drugs To Help Kids Study
Adderall and other stimulant drugs help students stay focused, a benefit that hasn't been lost on people without ADHD. Now the nation's neurologists say children and teens shouldn't be be prescribed these drugs for "neuroenhancement." → Read More
It's Not Just A Cold, It's 'Sickness Behavior'
Feeling grumpy and antisocial because you've got a cold? That's not just a random side effect. It's your body saying, "Hey, slow down and rest so you can get better." → Read More
It's Not Just A Cold, It's 'Sickness Behavior'
Feeling grumpy and antisocial because you've got a cold? That's not just a random side effect. It's your body saying, "Hey, slow down and rest so you can get better." → Read More
Biggest Flash Points In The Graham-Cassidy Health Care Bill
The bill would make big changes to the nation's health care system by rolling back key requirements of Obamacare, including that insurers not charge more to people with pre-existing conditions. → Read More
Biggest Flash Points In The Graham-Cassidy Health Care Bill
The bill would make big changes to the nation's health care system by rolling back key requirements of Obamacare, including that insurers not charge more to people with pre-existing conditions. → Read More
To Succeed At Breast-Feeding, Most New Moms Could Use Help
Almost all new mothers have trouble breast-feeding in the first week with their babies. The early problems, such as pain, were also the ones most likely to cause the women to give up on breast-feeding earlier than doctors recommend. → Read More
You Can Monitor Your Baby's Vital Signs 24/7, But Should You?
A new generation of baby monitors lets new parents track their child's heartbeat and other vital signs. But they're not health devices, a pediatrician warns, and could give a false sense of security. → Read More
PTSD Plagues 1 In 4 Survivors Of Stroke
The fear and anxiety of post-traumatic stress disorder can be caused by medical crises like a stroke or heart attack, researchers say. They think that's partly due to the life-threatening medical emergency, and partly due to the chaos of the American health care system. → Read More
How An Economist Helped Patients Find The Right Kidney Donors
If you've got a life-threatening medical condition, your first call might not be to an economist. But Alvin Roth used a theory about matching markets to help connect kidney patients and donors. → Read More
Poll: Doctors Are Still Prescribing Lots Of Opioids For Low Back Pain
More than half of Americans suffer lower back pain each year, the latest NPR/Truven Health Analytics survey finds. And they're often not going for treatments recommended as safest and most effective. → Read More
Is That Corporate Wellness Program Doing Your Heart Any Good?
Most employers have a wellness program, but who knows if it's actually improving your health. The American Heart Association is proposing its own standards for improving cardiovascular health at work. → Read More
Backyard Chickens: Cute, Trendy Spreaders Of Salmonella
Backyard chickens have become a hot trend, loved as a source of healthy local food and fluffy wonderfulness. But backyard birds have also sparked outbreaks of salmonella, the CDC warns. → Read More
Statins Might Not Cause Aching Muscles, But Diabetes Risk Is Real
An analysis of research on the cholesterol-lowering drugs shows that most side effects are no more common with them than with placebo drugs. But statins can raise the risk of diabetes. → Read More