Electronic implants to treat hearing loss, blindness and immobility are no longer limited to science fiction, scientists say. Researchers from the U.S. and Europe spoke February 17 at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Boston to present new developments in this field of bionic medicine.

It may seem the sun wages a constant war against our skin. Harmful UV radiation burns us, damages our DNA, and can sow the seeds for melanoma. But the sun is essential to our healthy development and our immune systems, because sun-exposed skin produces Vitamin D. During the long-ranging human exodus from Africa, says anthropologist Nina Jablonski, Vitamin D levels in the body played a key role: driving the evolution of our species' skin color.

The Martian quest for NASA’s roving laboratory Curiosity isn’t all about landings and lasers. Humbler experiments are now giving clues about the makeup and history of the red planet.

Although humans are the most prominent victims, every vertebrate species is susceptible to lead poisoning. Birds, fish, reptiles, dogs, and cats are all at risk. During a February 16 symposium at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Boston, researchers agreed that lead is pervasive and poses significant threats to living things.