A toxicologist’s guide to poison ivy’s itch and bee stings’ burning pain – 2 examples of nature’s chemical warfare

Enjoying the outdoors carries the danger of running into nature’s less-friendly side: toxic plants and animals. As toxicologists at the University of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Poison Center, we see many…

Can we train our taste buds for health? A neuroscientist explains how genes and diet shape taste

Have you ever wondered why only hummingbirds sip nectar from feeders? Unlike sparrows, finches and most other birds, hummingbirds can taste sweetness because they carry the genetic instructions necessary to…