Dan Vergano
NIH Knew About Tainted Drugs At Its Pharmacy For Months
Fungal contamination of drugs administered to six patients have led to the shutdown of a National Institute of Health pharmaceutical center. None of the patients reported illness.
Dan Vergano
Here’s Why Anthrax Just Won’t Die
Defense Department procedures for killing anthrax are under scrutiny after living spores were accidentally shipped to numerous labs. A tough outer shell makes anthrax one of the most resilient bugs on Earth.
Dan Vergano
Women In The E.R. Should Be Getting Pregnancy Tests
After decades of criticism, the FDA is changing its rules about drugs that may cause birth defects. One of the new recommendations: Women prescribed risky meds should get a pregnancy test first.
Dan Vergano
New Bill Would Drastically Change Science Funding Priorities
A new bill would cut federal research in geoscience by 12%, and social science by 58%. Angry scientists say it’s a thinly veiled attempt to squash climate research, but the bill’s sponsors say they simply want to boost economic payoffs.
Dan Vergano
U.S. Army Withdraws Flawed And Plagiarized Manual About "Cultural Understanding"
The U.S. Army has spiked a new manual explaining non-American cultures to its soldiers. One military expert called the manual “a jumbled mess,” while an anthropologist found that it contained text lifted from a book on religion seen as hostile to Islam and homosexuals.
Dan Vergano
What Rand Paul Gets Right — And Wrong — About Marriage And Poverty
Presidential candidate Rand Paul has repeatedly claimed that having children outside of marriage is a ticket into poverty. It’s true, sort of. But some social scientists point to more fundamental reasons for poverty, such as unemployment and skipping school.
Dan Vergano
Drones Could Become Flying Peeping Toms, Privacy Experts Warn
The Federal Aviation Administration is partnering with CNN and other companies to test-fly an undisclosed number of small drones. Privacy advocates are suing the government to avert a future of flying, spying, and prying robots.
Dan Vergano
Cruel Medical Experiments On Slaves Were Widespread In The American South
Invasive surgeries and other shocking experiments were “commonplace” on slaves before the Civil War, according to a sweeping new survey of old medical journals.
Dan Vergano
Whatever Happened To The Surgeon General?
The new surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, is making headlines in appearances with Elmo and Joe Biden. He has high hopes of revolutionizing American public health — but might be doomed by the powerlessness of his office.
Dan Vergano
Chinese Study Of Human Embryos Raises Fears Of Designer Babies
A Chinese research team has tweaked a gene in a handful of human embryos. The controversial experiment seems likely to prompt calls for a moratorium on engineering human embryos, even as scientists study similar DNA fixes in animals.
Dan Vergano
For Earth Day, A War On The EPA
April brings us showers, cherry blossoms, and attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency. On Earth Day, the agency charged with keeping the air and water clean is more contentious than ever.
Dan Vergano
Africa At Risk Of Ebola Flare-Up, WHO Leaders Say
Although fewer than 40 confirmed Ebola cases remain in West Africa, “success is not assured” in keeping the deadly disease under control, said World Health Organization officials. A $171 million funding shortfall could prevent officials from stamping out the epidemic for good.
Dan Vergano
Power Companies In 19 States Are Ending Pay-As-You-Go Electricity
The new billing plans charge flat rates for electricity in a tier system based on typical usage, giving customers less financial incentive to conserve. Solar panel owners are crying foul over the new schemes.
Dan Vergano
The Pentagon Is Putting Big Money Into Synthetic Biology
Genetically engineered bacteria, bionic limbs, and synthetic vaccines will help the U.S. build a more powerful military, according to DARPA, the Pentagon’s futuristic research arm. The agency’s renewed interest in biology comes despite scientists’ recent warnings about genetic engineering and deadly disease bugs.
Dan Vergano
We Could Easily Have Planes Without Pilots — If Only Passengers Would Fly In Them
We have the technology to fly planes piloted entirely by computers, experts say. The problem is that passengers aren’t ready for robotic planes — and neither are human pilots.
Dan Vergano
6 Reasons There's No Reason To Panic About This Plane Crash
Despite the media attention, plane crashes are extremely rare. And even if your next plane crashes, you'll probably be OK.
Dan Vergano
Boeing Patented A Humvee Force Field And It Could Actually Work
The plausible, if futuristic, patent envisions using arcs of electricity to shield against IED shock waves.
Dan Vergano
Canadian Disaster Raises Alarm About Shaky U.S. Dams
A Canadian catastrophe reveals flaws in dams holding back mine wastewater, often laced with toxic metals that can travel for miles downstream. Hundreds of mining dams in the U.S. are at risk of causing severe environmental damage, illness, and even deaths.
Dan Vergano
U.S. Customs Returns A Slew Of Valuable Antiquities To Iraq
Responding to ISIS destroying ancient archaeological sites in Iraq, U.S. investigators are returning dozens of recovered artifacts to Baghdad. The items include a statue of a king’s head valued at more than $1 million.
Dan Vergano
Scientists Call For Moratorium On Human Genetic Experiments
Prominent scientists have called for a temporary halt on research aimed at editing the DNA of human embryos, fearing a real-life Gattaca. "Human beings are not lab rats,” said one.
Dan Vergano
