The drug addicts’ brain scans that Dr. Stephen Dewey takes appear in psychedelic shades of red, yellow, green and blue, each indicating a level of brain activity — or inactivity. Red means excited. Blue is dormant. Dewey is the laboratory director for behavioral and molecular neuro-imaging at the North Shore-LIJ Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. In that capacity, he’s put hundreds of addicts’ brains to the test — the positron emission tomography test, that is — seeking to understand precisely what happens to the mind when a pot smoker lights up or a heroin junkie shoots up. And, he has found, it isn’t pretty. more

Biologists from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation are conducting tests to determine what medical ailments caused a rare whale to wash up and become stranded on the … more

Breast cancer is big business in America today, and high season for the industry is October. Personally (and it is personal), I feel exploited by the “pinking” of the world around me . . . more

This Halloween, teal pumpkins will be a sought-after decoration for those trick-or-treaters seeking fun holiday treats, but need to steer clear of certain candies due to food allergies. more

Few would describe the study of teenage eating disorders as a “passion,” but that’s precisely how Kennedy High School senior Rachel Mashal sees it. more

Although the summer is coming to a close, Jones Beach will continue to draw crowds. As families gather at Field 5 in the dim hours of the morning, there will be only one thing on everyone’s mind: finding a cure for a dreaded disease. more

Students in Mepham High School’s three-year Authentic Science Research program worked for months, and in some cases years, on their projects for this year’s Research Symposium on May 28. more

Jane Rubinstein, an artist and retired art teacher from Merrick, was one of a handful of women to take home an “Achievers Award” this year at the Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women’s annual gala. The center recognized Rubinstein for her charity and community work. more

Five Kennedy High School research students recently competed in the second, and final, round of the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, and one came away with a second-place award, one with a third place and three with honorable mentions. more

A majority of Americans, according to the Pew Research Center, support stepped-up military action against ISIS even though only one-third of those urging boots on the ground believe that we have a clear goal in sight. more