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Increasing concern that some scientists were faking their experiments led the government in 1989 to create a special office to investigate fraud among recipients of biomedical research grants. Recently, however, several of the office's most sensational guilty verdicts have been reversed, raising questions about the fairness of the government's investigations. Critics within the scientific community charge the office conducted witch hunts, denying due process to accused scientists and unfairly tarring careers. Meanwhile, reformers are urging the government to expand its oversight of research misconduct, arguing that untrustworthy data — even if not the product of outright fraud — can mislead other scientists searching for medical cures. Responding to widespread dissatisfaction, a White House panel is developing new guidelines for dealing with research misconduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health experts warn of a growing menace: the spread of bacterial infections that antibiotics are powerless to cure. Such infections, caused by pathogens known as superbugs, kill an estimated 700,000 people per year around the world, 23,000 of them Americans. In the United States alone, fighting superbugs consumes up to $20 billion in health care costs annually, a recent study found. Because humans and livestock consume so many antibiotics -- billions of doses a day -- many bacteria are becoming resistant to the drugs. Some doctors prescribe antibiotics indiscriminately, and countries such as India allow over-the-counter sales of the drugs. Making matters worse, pharmaceutical companies are not producing enough new antibiotics to replace those that are no longer effective. Some experts hope heightened awareness of the superbug threat, along with better diagnostic tools, will contain the problem, but others say governments must act more quickly to reduce antibiotic consumption. Meanwhile, researchers are seeking alternatives to antibiotics, such as using the immune system to quell infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical trials are designed to answer questions about the safety and effectiveness of experimental drugs, medical devices, vaccines and behavioral therapies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration relies on trials when considering whether to approve new medical treatments or new uses for existing drugs and devices. But the clinical trials system in the United States is in crisis. Few patients participate, causing nearly a fifth of trials to shut down early or before they even begin. In addition, trials are becoming increasingly long, complex and costly. The net effect, many medical experts warn, is that health care innovation and advances are threatened. Analysts have proposed some controversial remedies: requiring drug companies to publicly release more trial data to increase trust in their results, broadening eligibility requirements to attract more participants, involving patients in the design of clinical trials and incorporating the use of smartwatches and other wearable biosensors to gather data, which could make trials easier and cheaper to conduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil-fuel burning, deforestation, overhunting and other human activities are driving more and more animals, birds and plants to extinction, scientists say. Since 1970, the number of vertebrates -- mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish -- has dropped by more than half, and almost 200 species have become extinct. The loss of so many species in such a short time signals that a mass extinction, in which at least 75 percent of all species disappear, is occurring, many researchers say. A mass extinction would take place over thousands of years, endangering the global food supply and perhaps even human survival. But other scientists deny such a catastrophe has begun. The losses are part of the planet's evolutionary history, they say, noting that as species die new ones take their place. Still, both sides agree that humans must do better at protecting Earth's biodiversity -- the web of dependency that ties together plants, animals and humans. Many scientists say that adopting biodiversity-friendly alternatives, such as using renewable fuels and better managing suburban sprawl, could significantly slow the disappearance of plants and wild animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) loosened regulations so insurers could reimburse medical providers for online appointments. Besides slowing the spread of contagion, the availability of telehealth enabled working parents, caregivers, people with disabilities and employees with limited paid time off to easily access health care. Although the Biden administration ended the public health emergency on May 11, it extended telemedicine flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2024, to enable HHS to evaluate the coverage. The results of that review will determine which, if any, telemedicine services will continue to be covered by government insurance. If services are no longer covered, private insurers could follow suit. Meanwhile, critics say direct-to-consumer telemedicine and wellness companies have been selling patient health information, an issue that could become more critical as patients and providers face legal ramifications in some jurisdictions for certain health care procedures, such as abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bloodthirsty and ubiquitous, the mosquito is a carrier of death and disease. The roster of mosquito-borne illnesses is long: yellow fever, West Nile virus, chikungunya, dengue and the deadliest of all, malaria, which kills more than 400,000 people a year and sickens at least 200 million. The latest scourge is Zika, a fast-moving virus that can cause severe birth defects, including devastating brain damage in newborns. As mosquitoes spread Zika throughout the Americas, many travelers and athletes plan to avoid next month's Olympics in Brazil, the disease's epicenter. With the mosquito season now underway in the United States, health officials warn that Zika could become endemic in this country, particularly along the Gulf Coast. The outbreak has drawn renewed attention to the weakness of U.S. public health efforts and criticism of Congress' failure to approve funding to combat Zika. Experts say Zika offers the latest evidence that the mosquito threat will grow as Earth's climate warms and the insect's habitat expands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

President Obama has joined a long line of political leaders and patients' advocates calling for a cure for cancer, the nation's second-leading cause of death. But scientists caution that cancer is not just one disease amenable to a single cure but rather more than 100 complex and related diseases, many of which have defied decades of experimental treatments. Congress recently increased federal cancer research funding by $264 million for this year, money scientists say is needed to build on promising treatments that boost the body's immune system or that target molecules on cancer cells. But many new cancer medicines cost more than $100,000 annually, sparking outrage in Congress and among doctors. Drug makers say their charges are necessary to pay for medical research. Meanwhile, some doctors caution against false hope because many of the new drugs don't work for long or treat only certain cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medical community is debating whether the nation will have enough physicians in coming decades to serve the health care needs of U.S. residents. The Association of American Medical Colleges forecasts a deficit of up to 90,400 doctors -- particularly specialists -- by 2025, citing mainly a growing and aging population. But other professionals say such projections are exaggerated. Ending unnecessary medical procedures and making greater use of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacy-based clinics and technology that allows patients to communicate remotely with medical personnel could reduce the demand for doctors, they argue. Despite the debate, government officials and private organizations are working to increase the supply of physicians, especially in rural and low-income urban areas, where shortages exist. Efforts include expanding medical school slots and postgraduate residency programs, placing schools and residencies in localities that lack doctors, recruiting students from those areas and supporting them throughout their medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of Americans suffering from Alzheimer's, a degenerative brain disease, is projected to more than double by 2050, from 5.3 million today to 13.8 million. At the same time, as Baby Boomers age and medical expenses rise, the cost of treating and caring for people with the disease is expected to rise fivefold to $1.1 trillion. No treatment can yet prevent or cure Alzheimer's. However, advances in brain science and diagnostic technologies are creating breakthroughs unimagined even a few years ago. Rapidly expanding knowledge in genetics, neuroscience, biology and computing is leading to clinical trials on potential new drug therapies, research on how to prevent the disease and new tests to help diagnose it -- perhaps even before symptoms appear. Scientists are debating whether the main hypothesis of what causes the disease -- a buildup of amyloid protein into plaques that kill nerve cells in the brain -- is correct. Patient advocates say federal Alzheimer's research is underfunded, but Congress is clearing the way for more research funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New genetic technologies allow scientists to delete a mutant gene and insert a healthy one, which someday may enable doctors to banish disease genes. Used in embryos, gene editing has the potential to eliminate inherited diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. Until recently, the techniques have been used only on embryos from laboratory animals. In April, however, stunned scientists accused Chinese researchers of crossing a strict ethical boundary by using the technology on human embryos -- albeit nonviable ones. Some ethicists and scientists fear that if the new genetic engineering techniques are used to alter viable human embryos, scientists would then begin creating "designer babies." The Chinese experiment raised fears that the notorious eugenics movement of the early 20th century -- aimed at creating a perfect "master race" -- might re-emerge. Twenty-nine countries -- but not the United States -- prohibit genetic manipulation of human embryos, and ethicists and scientists are calling for a worldwide ban or moratorium until such procedures are better understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa to a mysterious new illness that killed a Kansas farmer last summer, emerging infectious diseases -- illnesses never seen before or that reappear in new places or with new severity -- threaten people around the world. About five new infections emerge in humans each year, typically three crossing over from animals. Many new kinds of infections also strike wild and domestic animals. Fifty years ago many medical scientists believed widespread use of antibiotics and vaccines would all but eliminate infectious disease. But factors such as environmental change, population growth, poverty and globalization are spurring new, often deadly, infections. Disease scientists urge policymakers to pay much more attention to animal health and to boost funding for public-health agencies here and abroad, but many conservatives say more money is not the answer. Meanwhile, scientists are gaining new insights into the genetic makeup of disease-causing microbes, giving them hope of discovering more ways to prevent or fight infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an advanced form of genetic engineering, scientists are manipulating the structure of cells to create new life forms designed to perform specific functions, such as detecting arsenic in drinking water or producing biofuels from algae. More than 500 companies, universities and other organizations worldwide are conducting research in the new field, known as synthetic biology, and developing products with the technology. Proponents say it will safely revolutionize everything from food and fuel production to medicine and manufacturing. But the field is largely self-regulated, leading critics to warn that synthetic biology -- especially when used on an industrial scale -- poses potential environmental and health risks that as yet are unexplored. Additionally, some ethicists question whether scientists should be creating new life forms. And others fear that the proliferation of do-it-yourself labs, where the public is free to experiment with synthetic biology, could enable terrorists to use the technology to create bioweapons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian scientists recently reported that octopuses were the first invertebrates to be observed using tools. In January, in a laboratory, a crow became the first bird to show "insight" — grasping the solution to a problem by mental activity, not trial-and-error behavior. Today virtually all animal scientists agree that animals — down through the insect kingdom — have amazing powers of mind. Nevertheless, some scholars warn against concluding that animals' minds are like the minds of humans. Skeptics say there is no evidence animals can generate language in the creative way humans can or form abstract concepts of things they cannot see or touch. A case in point, say some, is the fall from grace of Marc Hauser, a leading animal-mind researcher who championed an expansive view of some animals' mental abilities. Hauser was placed on leave from his Harvard professorship in August after a university probe concluded that he had falsified data in several of his high-profile studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

President George W. Bush used his veto power for the first time on July 19, stopping a bill that would have increased federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The cells might provide cures for diseases ranging from Alzheimer's to diabetes. ESCs are thought to have more disease-treating potential than similar cells found in adults, but they are controversial because harvesting them destroys a human embryo. The federal government supports research on several ESC cultures derived prior to 2001 from embryos created during in vitro fertilization (IVF) but not used. But the government won't pay to expand the research to other cell lines, which many scientists urge. Bush and other conservatives say morality forbids destroying additional embryos, regardless of the cells' treatment-producing potential. But ESC-research supporters argue the cells' life-saving potential outweighs qualms over destruction of IVF embryos, most of which eventually will be discarded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political bickering over scientific research is intensifying. The Bush administration has attacked environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act and warnings about global warming, claiming they are not based on sound science. But a distinguished group of scientists contends the administration distorts scientific information in order to support policies favored by the religious right and business interests. Questions also have been raised about the influence of corporate money on the integrity of government and academic science. Recently, it was revealed that many scientists at the prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) were also working as paid consultants to drug companies whose fortunes could be affected by decisions the scientists made. And questions increasingly are being asked about the close ties developing between university researchers and corporations, which have become a growing source of funding for academic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeology has come a long way since amateurs began hunting for ancient treasure in the 18th century. Today's archaeologists employ scientific methods and technology ranging from DNA to ground-penetrating radar. But with the new methods have come new responsibilities. Modern archaeologists now must contend with the cultural sensitivities of native groups affected by their work, although some scientists say political correctness has carried the trend to unreasonable extremes. In addition, archaeologists worry about preserving sites from looting and development, and dig less extensively than they did in the past to preserve the integrity of sites for future researchers. Meanwhile, some archaeologists say the only way to stop the looting of ancient sites is to ban the trade in antiquities altogether. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic fatigue syndrome is almost as mysterious today as when cases of "yuppie flu" first surfaced in the 1980s. No infectious agent has been found to cause the illness, which is defined as six months of fatigue and at least four flulike symptoms. Some researchers argue that the disease is psychologically induced — perhaps even a form of "mass hysteria." Others are convinced it has a physical cause. The federal government is funding investigations into possible disturbances in the immune system and the brain. Surprisingly, new studies suggest minorities and blue-collar workers — not yuppies — are most likely to suffer the symptoms. The illness probably will turn out to be a complex interplay of biological, psychological and social forces, many experts agree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sometime this spring, researchers are expected to finish deciphering most of the human genome -- the collection of some 100,000 genes that contain the operating instructions for the human body. The stunning accomplishment is expected to enable doctors to diagnose many diseases from a patient's genetic profile and treat or even prevent diseases by targeting the underlying genetic flaws. But revealing the genome's secrets also poses a host of legal and ethical concerns, including whether genetic information should be patented or kept in the public domain. Critics also worry about potential privacy violations, discrimination by insurers or employers seeking to exclude the genetically "flawed" and the psychological impact of genetic testing for incurable diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of embryos and aborted fetuses in scientific research is again under scrutiny, thanks to last year's landmark isolation of primordial human embryonic stem cells. These "master cells" are capable of evolving into virtually every kind of tissue in the body and could be the key to cures for conditions such as Parkinson's disease and diabetes. They also offer a never-before-seen glimpse into the earliest stages of human development. But anti-abortion groups and other critics contend the privately funded work runs counter to a 1995 congressional ban on embryo research and want to bar taxpayer money from subsidizing the research, regardless of the potential benefits. Congress and the National Institutes of Health are trying to devise new guidelines, and sidestep political minefields.education boosts academic achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first officially sanctioned human gene-therapy trials in 1990, there has been alternating news of great breakthroughs and disappointing setbacks. The pace of progress has left many critics wondering if the promise of gene therapy has been oversold and if public oversight has been sufficient for trials using human subjects. Still others question whether the scientists themselves have become too godlike, claiming the right to patent and control the use of genetically engineered life forms. Defenders say gene therapy offers a potent weapon in the fight against disease. They predict that success will come soon if government regulators give scientists more freedom, if alarmists temper their apocalyptic and Orwellian rhetoric and if investors have patience as researchers master the fundamentals needed for safe and successful treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]