Stories by Melinda Wenner Moyer

The brain's electrical storms may originate in nonelectrical cells

Activity in a key brain area drops with age

A majority of teens see marijuana as risk-free

For pregnant women, is that still a question?

The hallowed notion that oxidative damage causes aging and that vitamins might preserve our youth is now in doubt

An occasional drink during pregnancy is unlikely to harm most children, but we lack the tools to fully measure alcohol's effects on the developing brain

The most gregarious salespeople are not the most successful

A key attention region may underlie some octogenarians' unusual abilities

The EPA needs to get up to speed, experts say

Health departments have shrunk, raising fears about epidemics

Despite government recommendations, there is little evidence that flu vaccines help individuals older than 65 or younger than two

We each have two parents, but their genetic contributions to what makes us us are uneven. New research shows we are an amalgam of influences from Mom and Dad

Shedding pounds may be a better way to promote cardiovascular health than avoiding the saltshaker

Polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids are important parts of a healthy diet, but supplement studies have numerous sampling problems

Mean comments arise from a lack of eye contact more than from anonymity

Few medications have been proved safe for children, leaving doctors in a bind

A task force found insufficient evidence to recommend supplements to healthy people to prevent broken bones or cancer, but this could overlook several categories of people

Allergies may have emerged to protect us from environmental toxins

Family responsibilities, not discrimination, may explain why fewer women than men pursue tenure-track jobs in science

Although a meta-analysis of statins suggests that healthy people over 50 take cholesterol-lowering drugs as a preventative measure, some researchers argue the benefits may not outweigh the risks

Women who opt for epidurals are more likely to run a fever during labor that can endanger their babies

A new hypothesis argues that allergies emerged to protect us from harmful environmental substances

Why some people learn more from their mistakes

Alcohol and Xanax, both found in Whitney Houston's hotel room right after she died, inhibit the central nervous system and depend on the same enzyme for bodily clearance