An increased number of neuron "hubs" in the epileptic brain may be the root cause for the seizures that characterize the disorder, according to a new study. Scientists have identified that these hubs -- a small number of highly connected neurons -- are formed in the hippocampus during the transition from a healthy brain to an epileptic one.

  Hormonal contraception may become a safe, effective, and reversible form of birth control for men, according to a new study. The study revealed that the combination of testosterone and progestin suppressed sperm production faster and more completely than testosterone alone. "It is possible to suppress sperm output to concentrations that are comparable with reliable contraception in most, but not all men," said the lead author of the study. "The rate of suppression is comparable to that achieved after a vasectomy."

  Pollution from coal mining may have a negative impact on public health in mining communities. "Residents of coal-mining communities have long complained of impaired health," and researchers say "This study substantiates their claims. Those residents are at an increased risk of developing chronic heart, lung and kidney diseases."

  In many regions of Africa, elephants are frequent visitors to farms and villages as they roam the landscape searching for food and water. This often brings them into conflict with humans. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are tracking their movements through southern and eastern Africa using satellite collars in an effort to understand their ecology and help prevent these conflicts.

  Beta-blockers heal the heart via the brain when administered during heart failure, according to a new study. Up to now, it was thought that beta-blockers work directly on the heart, but the new study shows that the drugs may also act via the brain, suggesting that future therapies to treat cardiovascular disease could be targeting the central nervous system.

  Mercury is a large component of dental fillings, but it is not believed to pose immediate health risks in that form. When exposed to sulfate-reducing bacteria, however, mercury undergoes a chemical change and becomes methylated, making it a potent, ingestible neurotoxin.

  Here's a maxim from the "duh" department: People typically prefer to feel emotions that are pleasant, like excitement, and avoid those that are unpleasant, like anger. But a new study appearing in Psychological Science says this may not always be the case.

  People with larger stomachs in their 40s are more likely to have dementia when they reach their 70s, according to a new study. Those who were overweight and had a large belly were 2.3 times more likely to develop dementia than people with a normal weight and belly size.

  Mankind triumphed in a recent "competition" against nature when scientists succeeded in creating a new type of enzyme for a reaction for which no naturally occurring enzyme has evolved. This achievement opens the door to the development of a variety of potential applications in medicine and industry. Enzymes are, without a doubt, a valuable model for understanding the intricate works of nature.

  Researchers have shown for the first time that a natural antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine can help destroy pancreatic cancer cells by reaching to the cell's core energy source, or mitochondria, and crippling its function.

  Researchers are investigating a radical new design for cargo ships that would eliminate ballast tanks, the water-filled compartments that enable non-native creatures to sneak into the Great Lakes from overseas.

  Testosterone deficiency, previously recognized as common in men with type 2 diabetes, is also common in men with type 1 diabetes according to a new study. These findings suggest that there is a direct link between insulin resistance and reduced testosterone levels in men.

  Some people may know where their ancestors lived 10 or 20 generations ago, but the rest of us can learn our distant biological heritage only from our DNA. New genomics analysis software developed by computer scientists at Stanford appears far more adept than prior methods at unraveling the ancestry of individuals. Going back 20 generations the software can identify what continent or broad global region an individual's ancestors were from.

  Can we train ourselves to be compassionate? A new study suggests the answer is yes. Cultivating compassion and kindness through meditation affects brain regions that can make a person more empathetic to other peoples' mental states, according to new research.