Pipe Dreams

by Amanda Craig and Scott Shackelford

In an age when lab tests and diagnostic protocols dominate, doctor/author Abraham Verghese has opened a new chapter on an old practice: bedside medicine. His students are listening, one patient at a time.

by Susan Cohen

Neuroscientists are getting closer to understanding why buying things makes us feel better. This could be a boon for marketers. Could it also be a tool for self-control?

by Joan O’C. Hamilton

In refugee camps and war-torn neighborhoods around the world, documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy finds the people scarred by violence and deprivation, and gives them a voice.

by Diane Rogers

Forrest Church, diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, took stock of his prospects. The Unitarian minister shares his outlook on life and death.

Poor sanitation and contaminated drinking water cause the deaths of millions of children throughout Africa. Using Tanzania as a test site, assistant professor Jenna Davis is leading an effort to learn what information best helps families stay healthy.

by Robert L. Strauss

Trapped in permafrost for thousands of years, the remains of woolly mammoths and other now-extinct species present a massive carbon bank that could wreck the climate. How can scientists keep them locked in the ground?

by Adam Wolf

How do you make a lasting first impression? Write an attention-grabbing opening sentence in your admission essay. One like these from the Class of '12.

We know we need it, but sticking to an exercise program is tough. New health research shows that with a helpful reminder from a PDA or the instant feedback from a pedometer, test subjects took steps in the right direction. Now, will it work for the rest of us?

by Kara Platoni

What do seniors say on their way out of the Farm? We piggybacked on a yearbook survey with our own questions about love, life and what happens next.