5 Facts About Pain

(NEWSER) - Does thinking make us fat? Researchers say that intellectual activity just might cause us to pig out, LiveScience reports. Volunteers who performed a series of problem-solving tasks in a study consumed almost 30% more calories afterward than those who just sat around and took it easy. One theory: The body demands food to restore glucose depleted by the stress of thinking. More»

Could predict risk decades before symptoms show

(NEWSER) - A new test could predict a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s decades before symptoms appear—and it only takes half a minute, the Daily Telegraph reports. A London scientist identified a group of otherwise healthy people in their 40s whose brain scans revealed tiny lesions in the memory hub, similar to those found in post-mortem exams of Alzheimer's patients. He then had these patients take a quick computer test designed to evaluate reaction times; they showed a range of reaction times, while their lesion-free peers’ reactions were either consistently fast or slow. More»

Females built to last for reproductive success: scientist

(NEWSER) - Women have their hardworking cells to thank for the fact that they tend to live longer than men, argues a scientist. Experts believe aging is caused by tiny problems in the body, and we die when our bodies stop repairing these issues, the Daily Mail reports. Women, suggests the UK scientist, are genetically hardwired to maintain their cells longer, while men are more biologically “disposable.” More»

But moderate drinkers tend to live longest

(NEWSER) - Bad news for teetotalers: Drinking may be good for you, sort of. A new study suggests that drinkers, even heavy drinkers, tend to outlive those who abstain. "Moderate" drinkers, defined here as those who drink one to three glasses a day, were found to live longest, notes Time . The study followed 1,824 people between the ages of 55 and 65 for 20 years: In that time, 69% of those who never drank died, compared to 60% of heavy drinkers and 41% of moderate drinkers. More»

Transgenic crop has increased amounts of beta carotene, folate and vitamin C

(NEWSER) - Scientists have genetically engineered a strain of corn that dramatically boosts the naturally occurring amounts of three critical vitamins, the Los Angeles Times reports. The enhanced strain of African white corn produces six times the vitamin C, double the amount of folate, and 169 times the beta carotene, a vitamin A precursor. It is the first time that scientists have upped the production of more than one vitamin in a single plant. More»