New research looks at the specific ways parents and peers influence teenagers to smoke, drink and use marijuana in combination.

A daily supplement of vitamin D at a dose of 700-1000 IU reduces the risk of falling among older people by 19 percent according to a new study. But a dose of less than 700 IU per day has no effect.

Researchers have identified the role of a gene in regulating molecular signals involved with ovarian follicle development, which may one day help shed light on some of the causes of fertility issues in humans.

Scientists have shown that, in ancient times, the Earth's magnetic field was structured like the two-pole model of today, suggesting that the methods geoscientists use to reconstruct the geography of early land masses on the globe are accurate. The findings may lead to a better understanding of historical continental movement, which relates to changes in climate.

The human brain has evolved over millions of years to become a vast network of billions of neurons and synaptic connections. Understanding it is one of humankind's greatest pursuits. But to understand how the brain processes information, researchers must first understand the very basics of neurons -- even down to how proteins inside the neurons act to change the neuron's voltage. To do so requires a balance of experimentation and computer modeling.

Converting the rubbish that fills the world's landfills into biofuel may be the answer to both the growing energy crisis and to tackling carbon emissions, claim scientists in Singapore and Switzerland. New research reveals how replacing gasoline with biofuel from processed waste could cut global carbon emissions by 80%.

Preterm infants who receive leg movement training display feet-reaching behaviors similar to that of full-term infants, according to a randomized controlled trial. This finding supports feet-reaching play as an early intervention strategy to encourage interaction with physical objects in preterm infants who have movement problems within the first months of postnatal life.

A new study resolves a 130-year-old mystery over the developmental origin of specialized skin cells involved in touch sensation.

Repeated learning sessions produce long-lasting memory when they are spaced out between rest intervals. Neuroscientists have discovered that this so-called "spacing effect" is controlled in the brain by a molecular timer -- a protein that determines how long rest intervals need to last for long-term memory to form.

The prevalence of mental health disorders in this country has nearly doubled in the past 20 years. Who is treating all of these patients? Clinical psychologists and therapists are charged with the task, but many are falling short by using methods that are out of date and lack scientific rigor, according to a new report.