Getty ImagesA child sleeps with his hand tied to a bar at an orphanage in Ploiesti, Romania, on May 16, 1990. This particular orphanage is for children who have birth defects, deformities and intellectual disabilities.Most people don’t need science to appreciate the importance of a mother’s love. But to understand how early maltreatment can derail a child’s development requires careful study — and is fraught with ethical peril. Such research is therefore often conducted in animals. A new analysis of data on 231 rhesus macaque monkeys explored the effects of three early-childhood conditions on the animals’ later lives. About half of the monkeys were raised normally by their mothers, living in social groups with other monkeys — a condition similar to their natural environment. One ... Continue reading →
The Case of Cameron Douglas: Prison Is Not Rehab, Say Addiction ExpertsAn unusually harsh prison sentence handed down to the drug-addicted son of actor Michael Douglas has prompted addiction experts to indict the courts for ignoring the treatment needs of inmates. The case of Cameron Douglas could be an unlikely turning point in this country’s endless war on drugs. Douglas, the 33-year-old son of actor Michael Douglas who is currently serving a five-year sentence for possessing and distributing drugs, was slammed in December with an additional 4.5-year term for possession of heroin and Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction, while imprisoned. Although Douglas had not received any treatment for his heroin addiction during his incarceration, a federal district court judge saw his continued ... Continue reading →
Being at the bottom of the social ladder is generally a predictor of bad health: research shows that poor people die sooner and have more disease than rich people, even when you account for factors like lack of access to health care. But the data on social hierarchy and health — including studies in primates other than humans — contains a paradox for males: high status is linked with high levels of testosterone, and high testosterone can in turn lower immunity and increase disease risk. So, why is high rank consistently associated with good health? A new study in baboons sheds new light on the connections. Scientists examined data collected over 27 years in wild baboons living in the Amboseli region of Kenya. The researchers ... Continue reading →
Traces of Marijuana Found in Trayvon Martin’s Body: Does It Matter?News that the Florida teen's autopsy revealed trace amounts of THC shouldn't be misinterpreted to equate marijuana use with violence. FREDERIC J. BROWN/Staff / AFP/Getty ImagesPeople wait to enter a Los Angeles church to attend an April rally to mark the two-month anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin.Among the voluminous evidence released Thursday in the shooting death of 17-year-old Florida high school student Trayvon Martin is a toxicology report showing that the teen had trace levels of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in his blood and urine. The evidence includes abundant new information: conflicting witness statements, an autopsy report showing that Martin, who was black, died from a single gunshot wound to the ... Continue reading →
Tim Robberts / Riser / Getty ImagesGretchen Reynolds writes the New York Times’ “Phys Ed” column and has been a devotee of physical exercise — particularly running — for decades. In her work, she’s discovered that while inactivity can drastically shorten the healthy lifespan, most of the benefits of working out don’t require hours of effort or marathon-type training. Healthland spoke with the author of The First 20 Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer about how to get the most out of the physical activity you can actually fit into your busy schedule. Healthland: What surprised you most when you looked into the science of exercise?Reynolds: In all honesty, [it] was how little physical activity can make a ... Continue reading →
