Results tagged “std” from 60 Second Science

People have long hypothesized that Columbus brought the basics of syphilis back with him when he returned to Europe from the New World. But it was always circumstantially based on the fact that the timing of the first recorded syphilis outbreak matched up. But we're not ones to indict an explorer based on circumstantial evidence. At least not when we can use science.

Kristin N. Harper, a researcher in molecular genetics at Emory University, led a study showing that the straing of Treponema pallidum causing the STD syphilis arose is closely related to a strain responsible for the nonvenereal infection yaws, particularly in a variety recently found in children in Guyana, the only known site of yaws infections today.

Continue reading 'Columbus: Good for "discovering" continents and bringing back STDs' >

The female condom has never been popular with the ladies. It's never won over guys either. It is clumsy, cold, stiff and sometimes painful. Not necessarily something steamy to climb into bed with.

The New York Times reports that scientists are bringing sexy back to the female condom with a redesign.

The new and improved female condom is made from a thinner polyurethane that transmits warmth better. Plus, it's lost an awkward diaphragm-like ring at its tip, which had to be folded into a figure 8 for insertion during the heat of the moment.

The only thing it's missing is an invisibility cloak.

Married women are one of the highest groups at risk of contracting AIDS. For many of these women, their husbands do not condone wearing a condom classified for either gender.

Continue reading 'Female condom gets a facelift' >