Latest articles by Christoph Schwaiger
'Russian nesting doll' virus hides inside a deadly fungus, making it even more dangerous to people
A virus found lurking inside a deadly fungus may make the microbe even stronger and harder to kill when it infects people.
Humans may have untapped 'superpowers' from genes related to hibernation, scientists claim
Scientists pinpointed key "regulators" that help control the metabolisms of hibernators, and say the same genes might hold untapped benefits for humans.
Earliest evidence of humans catching disease from animals dates to 6,500 years ago
By analyzing ancient DNA, scientists determined when, where and how our ancestors got sick from infectious diseases.
Scientists discover never-before-seen part of human cells
Scientists say they captured 3D images of a new organelle they're calling a "hemifusome," which may be a recycling center in human cells.
Diagnostic dilemma: A man who couldn't pee had been infected by one of the largest known human parasites
A 35-year-old man who couldn't pass urine learned that the cause of his obstruction was a giant worm living in his kidney.
Diagnostic dilemma: After surgery, a 17-year-old could speak only a foreign language
While waking up from knee surgery, a 17-year-old boy temporarily lost his ability to speak in his native language.
Diagnostic dilemma: Weakness in a man's leg revealed his abnormally small brain
A man went to hospital complaining about weakness in his left leg, and subsequent brain scans revealed a surprising finding.
Diagnostic dilemma: A man huffed computer cleaner for years. Then his hands started growing.
A man was diagnosed with skeletal fluorosis, which likely emerged due to him inhaling substances that damaged his bones.
Diagnostic dilemma: A woman started sweating blood from her face and hands
A 21-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital after she was bleeding from her face and palms, with no obvious cause.
Diagnostic dilemma: Doctors find 27 contact lenses in woman's eye ahead of routine surgery
A patient went to the doctor for cataract surgery, but her physicians were surprised to find a huge, foreign mass under her eyelid.
What causes people to 'choke' under pressure?
People who "choke" under pressure underperform in high-stakes situations out of stress and worry. But what causes this phenomenon?
Monkey study reveals science behind 'choking under pressure'
When a person (or monkey) is facing stakes that are too high, the stress can interfere with neurons, affecting how they direct the body to execute movements, a study suggests.
Real-time brain stimulation slashes Parkinson's symptoms by half in trial
A new device reacts to rising and falling levels of Parkinson's medication in the body and improves quality of life for some patients.
'Love hormone' oxytocin may be missing link between sleep apnea and high blood pressure
Scientists found that two brain-made chemicals, including oxytocin, may play a role in increasing blood pressure after repeated periods of low oxygen.
What are ultraprocessed foods?
Ultraprocessed foods have been tied to various health risks — but what are they, exactly?
Is there a 'male menopause'?
Men in their 50s experience age-related symptoms and hormone declines — but is this the same as what women go through during menopause?
32 unusual medical cases
Medical case reports feature a wide array of unusual ailments, from "furry tongues" and water allergies to changing eye colors.
How does anesthesia work?
Different types of anesthesia work in distinct ways — but scientists don't fully understand all their effects.
'Microbiome of death' uncovered on decomposing corpses could aid forensics
By analyzing the comings and goings of bacteria and fungi on decomposing bodies, researchers believe they can determine when a person died.
