All the patients had the same terrible diagnosis: brain damage that marooned them in a “vegetative state” — alive but without any sense of awareness of themselves or the world around them. But then an international team of scientists tried an ambitious experiment: By measuring electrical activity in the patients’ brains with a relatively simple technique, the researchers attempted to discern whether, in fact, they were conscious and able to communicate. Read full article > >

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Technique spots patients misdiagnosed as being in ‘vegetative state’

Scientists say that malaria-carrying mosquitoes are disappearing in some parts of Africa but the researchers are unsure as to why.

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Mystery drop in mosquito numbers

CHICAGO — A study in South Korea suggests about 1 in 38 children have traits of autism, higher than a previous U.S. estimate of 1 in 100. By casting a wider net and looking closely at mainstream children, the researchers expected to find a higher rate of autism characteristics. But they were surprised at how high the rate was. They don’t think South Korea has more children with autism than the United States, but instead that autism often goes undiagnosed in many nations. U.S. estimates are based on education and medical records, not the more time-consuming survey conducted in South Korea. Read full article > >

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S. Korea study estimates 1 in 38 children have autism traits, two-thirds in mainstream schools

New research into the cause of dolphin “strandings” – incidents in which weakened or dead dolphins are found near shore – has shown that in some species, many stranded creatures share the same problem.

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Researchers find that beached dolphins are often deaf

Scientists say that the technology behind Star Wars style 3D holograms is “close to reality.”

Outgoing people appear to suffer worse from the effects of lack of sleep, US Army researchers suggest.

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Sleep loss ‘worse for extroverts’