Mary Carmichael

Trouble looms and there are no simple solutions. What you—and the next president—need to know.

A controversial doctor says yes; his critics say 'bull----.'

Cancer screening and other measures for heading off disease don't always reduce health-care costs.

Researchers get closer to a more effective HIV treatment—and possibly a vaccine

Should children under 10 take statins? The pros and cons of prescribing the popular meds for the playground set.

Could drug therapy curb an addiction to gambling?

How a pediatric oncologist balances reality and optimism. The banjo helps.

The science of sudden cardiac arrest.

A new government program will study, diagnose and ultimately treat people with mysterious diseases.

Medicare? Over time, Emanuel's plan would completely phase it out. Medicaid? Same idea.

How doctors diagnose bipolar disease in young children and why it's still so controversial.

Advice for families coping with the challenges of raising a child with bipolar disease.

What scientists have learned about the genetic and neurological roots of this complex illness.

Bipolar disorder is a mystery and a subject of medical debate. But for the Blakes, it's just reality.

A new study links high testosterone levels in male financial traders to profits, but too much of the hormone can have the opposite effect.

As a kid, I hated P.E. class so much that the word "kick-ball" still gives me shudders. It was embarrassing (gym shorts) and, worse, it seemed useless, at least to my 12-year-old self.

A new study reveals that some short women have a gene linked to longevity. Could the findings help all of us live longer?

Some childhood cancer survivors try to hide their disabilities; others admit to having problems but don't explain why.

A genetic variant may protect some abused kids from depression and other long-term effects.

Two new studies answer important questions about drug-eluting stents. But the biggest debate in cardiology isn't over yet.

Abortion rates have hit a 34-year low, but experts disagree on the reasons why.

There's a reason doctors started acting godlike: some patients wanted to believe it wasn't just an act.

Every day, it seems, scientists learn something new about how our genes work. The latest insights into the dazzling and complex machinery of life itself.

Daniel Khani was feeling healthy, but he did have a medical problem or, rather, a problem with medicine: he thought he wasn't getting enough of it. The basic physical he got each year was, well, basic.

New details reveal just how big a disaster Merck's AIDS vaccine turned out to be.

Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona, is a nice guy—not the sort to seek out international controversy. But last week he found himself deluged with angry e-mails, and the Haitian Embassy and Consulates across the country were fielding hundreds of equally irate phone calls about him.

There are no easy answers when parents with young kids become seriously ill. How new strategies help families cope.

A doctor, a banker, an engineer and a scientist are working separately—and together—to bring lifesaving vaccines to children around the world. How inspired individuals can take on and conquer some of the world's biggest problems.

Susan Burke's left knee was humbling her. At 54, she wanted to hike and whitewater raft through the national parks or, at the very least, to stroll around the block with her husband at night, as she'd always done.

The list of reasons a person might pack on too many pounds is already plenty long: genes, hormone disorders, a couch-potato lifestyle, love of cheeseburgers.