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Annals of science

Columbia U. researchers aim to cure Indian 'wolf boy'
Pruthviraj Patil, an 11-year-old living in Mumbai, has hair everywhere, and we mean everywhere, particularly all over his face; no matter how much he shaves it just grows back. Now scientists at Columbia are hoping to cure his condition with testosterone injections -- a treatment they ironically discovered while researching a baldness cure. Keep reading...

The phone that feels the flu before you do
Zicam has released a program this week for the T-Mobile G1, also known as the "Google phone," that warns the user how many people in an area are sneezing and shaking with winter viruses. The "Zicam Cold & Flu Companion" will say, for instance, that 8%-14% of the people in your ZIP code have respiratory illnesses, representing a "Moderate" risk level. To give germophobes and hypochondriacs even more of a thrill, it also says what symptoms are common, like coughing and sore throat. Keep reading...

Is technology rewiring our brains?
UCLA psychiatrist Dr. Gary Small argues that daily exposure to digital technologies such as the Internet and smart phones can alter how the brain works such that brain circuits involved in face-to-face contact can become weaker. These changes may lead to such geek hallmarks as social awkwardness, an inability to interpret nonverbal messages and isolation. Keep reading...

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