Home | Medicine | Research & discovery

Blue Baby Operation     1995 was the 50th anniversary of the Blalock-Taussig Shunt - a landmark in the history of cardiac surgery. Developed through the collaboration of a surgeon, a pediatric cardiologist, and a surgical technician, this operation has saved the lives of thousands of children throughout the world. From Blue Baby Operation Exhibit http://www.med.jhu.edu/medarchives/page1.htm

Superman     Spinal Cord Repair. Hopeful news about nerve regeneration. When Christopher Reeve promises he'll walk away from his wheelchair one day, you might think he's talking comic-book reality. From Superman? http://whyfiles.org/023spinal_cord/

Nicotine junkies     Addiction. Still smoking that tobacco? In the midst of a battle royale over tobacco, nicotine and smoking, scientists have found striking evidence that heroin, cocaine and nicotine affect the same part of the brain. Statistics and information. From Smoke gets in your eyes http://whyfiles.org/024nicotine/

Minding the Body     Emotions and Health. Surprising links between emotional well-being and physical health. Remember when "mind and body" were distinct? Today we know the mind affects the body and vice versa. From Emotional rescue http://whyfiles.org/039emotion/

Flu season     Dealing with one tricky and deadly virus. When a three-year-old boy died of influenza in Hong Kong last May, scientists tracking the shifty flu virus took notice. Had an old killer returned to the march? From Got the flu? http://whyfiles.org/049flu/

One pill makes you smaller     Fast Fat Fixes. Will these pills make you smaller - or sicker? Could fat help? CLA. fen-phen. Leptin. DHEA. From Quick fixes for obesity http://whyfiles.org/051fat_fixes/

Defying death     Caloric restriction and antioxidants may help you live longer. The only reliable way to extend the lifespan of rodents, spiders, guppies and water fleas is to drastically cut calories without skimping on essential nutrients. It's a technique scientists call undernutrition without malnutrition. From Live longer and prosper http://whyfiles.org/057aging/

On Mice and Men     Cancer Cure? Attacking cancer's blood supply. Great results from natural blood vessel inhibitor Endostatin, the naturally occurring chemical that inhibits the growth of blood vessels, not only shrank the mouse tumors. From A new attack on cancer http://whyfiles.org/064angio_cancer/

Andes Expedition: Searching for Inca Secrets     Virtual autopsy of the ice maiden that was killed five hundred years ago as a sacrifice to the gods in the Inca empire. The maiden's body preserved remarkably well. There is also a description of the expedition to the Andes led by Johan Reinhard, aimed to discover more Inca religious sites. Attractive graphics, but limited content. From Andes @ nationalgeographic.com http://www.nationalgeographic.com/andes/index.html

Everest: Measure of a Mountain     Scientists and climbers are using the global positioning system (GPS) and radar to measure the height of Mount Everest. Learn about the body's reaction to heights and read the latest dispatches from people trying to climb the highest mountain in the world. From Everest @ nationalgeographic.com http://www.nationalgeographic.com/everest/index.html

Everest the Search for Mallory and Irvine     Follow an actual expedition to Mt. Everest, and look for evidence that two British climbers could have reached the highest point thirty years prior to Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, who are known to hold the honor since 1953. Contains narration and interviews with experts. Poorly organized. From NOVA Online | Lost on Everest http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/

Truth About Impotence     Common causes of impotence, and views. Features an interview with Dr. I. Goldstein about possible cures. From NOVA Online | The Truth About Impotence http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/impotence/

Blazing a Genetic Trail     Colorful web book describing the excitement in biomedical research as scientists discover the causes of baffling diseases: abnormal genes. Includes: family studies; the Human Genome Project; and how to conquer hereditary diseases like cystic fibrosis. From HHMI's Blazing a Genetic Trail: Research on Mutant Genes and Hereditary Diseases. http://www.hhmi.org/genetictrail/

Mysterious Mummies of China     Preserved in peat bogs, frozen in ice, embalmed on the banks of the Nile - find out how mummies across the ages came to be preserved. From NOVA Online | Mysterious Mummies of China http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/chinamum/

Seeing, Hearing, and Smelling the World     Research and articles on the three best-known human senses: vision, hearing and smelling. Learn how humans see, how we hear and how we smell. From Seeing, Hearing and Smelling the World http://www.hhmi.org/senses/

Ice mummies     Process of mummification and about how scientists study mummies that they find. Learn about the Peruvian expedition of 1996. From NOVA Online | Ice Mummies http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/icemummies/