Understanding exactly how birds hear sounds differently than humans is a key area of research for scientists studying deafness in humans. This is because birds …
Month: October 2016
Stanford med school alum carves Clinton and Trump jack-o’-lanterns
Five years ago, medical student Raymond Tsai -- described as a "whiz with sharp objects" -- carved a jack-o'-lantern that looked amazingly like the late …
A look at scientists’ efforts to conquer a deadly brain tumor
There's a fascinating new story in Scientific American about how precision-medicine techniques are helping scientists crack the mysteries of the deadliest brain tumor. The tumor, …
Teens’ beliefs about marijuana documented in new Stanford study
There's a good news/bad news story playing out around teen smoking: After years of public health education about the dangers of cigarette use, teenagers' cigarette …
Trick-or-treat: A checklist for a safe and healthy Halloween
As a kid, my checklist for Halloween was short and simple: put on my costume and have a pail for all the treats I would collect …
Hearing voices: Listening clearly to psychosis
When someone "hears a voice" what is really happening? Can we all understand what it means to hear voices? Approaching the phenomenon of hearing voices …
Researchers discover “brain signature” for fibromyalgia using brain scans
Millions of people suffering from fibromyalgia often experience widespread musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbances, headaches and mood disorders. Many also struggle to even get a diagnosis, …
Three awarded Stanford University School of Medicine’s highest honor
Congratulations are in order for entrepreneur/philanthropist Sean Parker, founder of the Parker Foundation; Stanford's Ann Arvin, MD, who has dedicated her career to understanding infectious …
Micro-balloon may reveal intestines’ stretching secrets
I must admit I haven't given my small intestine much thought recently. But as I've been ignoring it, it has been stretching and shrinking, tirelessly …
Exploring how physicians can handle discrimination by patients
Katherine Hill, MD, a Stanford clinical instructor of pediatrics, was an intern on rotation in the ER when the father of a little boy asked her …
Biochemist Peter Kim weighs in on the ambitious goals of the Biohub
About a month ago I wrote about a new collaboration between three Bay Area universities called the Biohub. It was the first science investment by …
Discussing cancer: Online course offers tips to tackle tough conversations
Have you tried to talk to a friend or family member about cancer? It's not easy. You might have blurted out something offensive, offered advice …
What does it take to coordinate patient care?
As a clinical student, I’ve been a part of dozens of outpatient clinic visits, but several days ago, I witnessed a clinic visit much unlike …
Millions of children live in high-mortality hotspots across sub-Saharan Africa
The good news is that deaths of children under 5 have fallen from nearly 12 million a year in 1990 to fewer than six million …
New hormone helps explain how high-fat diets make us fatter
When I first took high-school biology in the early 1990s, I learned a very simplistic view of fat cells: They were, my teachers said, passive …
Surviving cancer, one milestone at a time
April 15, 2008 is a date that I'll never forget. I had been experiencing fatigue and nausea for a few months, so I scheduled to …