Health
Under Our Skin—A Look at Lyme Disease
Lyme disease, carried by ticks, has become a politically and medically controversial disease.
Post on Sep 16, 2009 by Cat
Genetic Tests: When No Means Maybe (Part 1)
Genetic tests often don’t give as much information as you might think.
Post on Sep 14, 2009 by Dr. Barry Starr
Personalized Medicine
We all know that, thanks to our DNA, each of us is a little bit different. Some of those differences are obvious, like eye and hair color, but others are not so obvious, like how our bodies react to medication. Researchers are beginning to look at how to tailor medical treatments to our genetic profiles. Some of the biggest breakthroughs have been in cancer treatment.
Audio Report on Sep 14, 2009 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
Reporter's Notes: Personalized Medicine
You've probably heard about some of the breakthroughs in personal genome sequencing, where companies take a look at your DNA and send back your risk profile. But there's a flip side to all this genetic research that doesn't have to do with risk: personalized medicine.
Post on Sep 11, 2009 by Lauren Sommer
Anti-bacterial Soap: is the Medicine Worse Than the Cure?
Even if you are not handling reptiles daily like we are, you can take action to reduce exposure to toxic anti-microbials.
Post on Sep 02, 2009 by Cat
Blowing up the House for Energy Efficiency
How much air is your house leaking? Are you unknowingly slurping in dirty air from your garage and attic? Perhaps a blower door test can help you find out.
Post on Aug 26, 2009 by Jim Gunshinan
Science Event Pick: The Long Quest for Health Care Reform
There are health systems around the country that actually have costs that are as much as 20 percent or 30 percent lower than the national average and have higher quality. What is it that they are doing differently from other systems?
Post on Aug 24, 2009 by Kishore Hari
Playing with Lead – Part 2
Months after the federal government enacted stricter standards intended to keep lead out of children's toys, a KQED investigation found merchandise that violates the law still sitting on many Bay Area store shelves. In part two of the series, QUEST looks at the challenges of keeping leaded toys out of stores.
Audio Report on Aug 17, 2009 by KQED QUEST staff from QUEST Northern California
Playing with Lead – Part 1
Congress recently passed tougher limits on lead levels due to the large number of recalls of imported toys. But the new law, which went into effect in February, doesn't seem to be keeping dangerous items off store shelves, as reporter Oanh Ha found out.
Audio Report on Aug 10, 2009 by KQED QUEST staff from QUEST Northern California
Reporter's notes: Playing with Lead – Part 1
Suddenly, parents, including me, eyed the toys in our homes and on store shelves with suspicion. Extensive research links lead exposure in children to lower IQ scores, neurological and behavioral problems, even anemia.
Post on Aug 07, 2009 by Andrea Kissack
Science Event Picks: The Low Carbon Diet, August 9 and 10
Most Americans have room to cut their carbon *food*print by 25%. Not easily done, but luckily we have help in the Bay Area. Check out these 2 upcoming events.
Post on Aug 06, 2009 by Kishore Hari
Why We Will Never See Another Einstein
Getting my DNA tested has got me to thinking about, well, my DNA. And your DNA. And everyone else's DNA too.
Post on Aug 03, 2009 by Dr. Barry Starr
Producer's Notes – Born Too Soon: Pre-term Births on the Rise
As a result of the QUEST story, my pregnancy became more of a public event than I expected it to be. Naturally, after the boys were born, there were several inquiries as to our well-being. Here’s what happened:
Post on Jul 28, 2009 by Amy Miller
Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!
A bed bug infestation in my apartment led to some careful internet research.
Post on Jul 22, 2009 by Cat
Producer's Notes: Decoding Synthetic Biology
Synthetic biology portends big changes in our lives by ushering in a dizzying array of applications in everything from medicine to biofuels, environmental remediation to agriculture.
Post on Jul 21, 2009 by Sheraz Sadiq
Taking the Plunge: Diving Into my DNA
Well, I have finally decided to do it. I have ponied up the money and signed up for 23andMe's DNA test.
Post on Jul 20, 2009 by Dr. Barry Starr
Depression Advancements
One in six Americans will experience a major episode of depression at some point in their lives. And yet the drugs commonly used to treat the disease have been described as "blunt instruments"
by researchers. Newer approaches use magnets to stimulate some of the neurological signals that underlie depression.
Audio Report on Jul 20, 2009 by KQED QUEST staff from QUEST Northern California
Reporter's Notes: Depression Advancements
This radio story tries to cram a lot into five minutes, so if you don't find what you need here, put a comment on the blog, below and I'll see if I can't provide a lead to more information.
Post on Jul 17, 2009 by Amy Standen
Risky Business: Genes Just Part of the Story
When talking about genetic pre-disposition to a condition, make sure you understand both the increased risk factor and the general risk.As the geneticist at the Ask a Geneticist blog, I get a lot of questions about diseases that run in the family. They usually run along the lines of, "My mother had diabetes, what is [...]
Post on Jul 06, 2009 by Dr. Barry Starr
Web Extra: Stem Cells and Horses Slideshow
At UC Davis Veterinary Hospital, competitive performance horses receive stem cell treatments that are still off limits to humans. Get a look inside a treatment facility at UC Davis.
Slideshow on Jun 19, 2009 by KQED QUEST staff from QUEST Northern California
