Understanding of psychiatric disorders is catching up to a reality all too familiar to the doctors who treat patients: one-size-fits-all treatments for complex conditions like depression or bipolar disorder are coming up short.
Why it matters: As new treatments hit the market, researchers are still trying to understand the underpinnings of the disorders in hopes of tailoring medicines to those patients who will benefit most.
The tropics lost the equivalent of 10 soccer (football) fields of forest per minute last year due to logging, human-set fires and climate change, according to a new report from the World Resources Institute (WRI).
Why it matters: Declines in rainforest deforestation rates in Brazil and Colombia were counteracted by increases in other countries, which set the world further off track from meeting forest loss goals critical to curbing climate change.
The Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be "extremely active," with 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, a prominent forecast group said Thursday.
Why it matters: This is the highest number of hurricanes that a team of meteorologists from Colorado State University have issued in the 41 years they have produced such outlooks during April.
A powerful earthquake struck Taiwan, killing at least nine people and wounding nearly 1,000 on Wednesday morning, according to Taiwan's fire department.
The big picture: Taiwan's National Fire Agency said the deaths occurred in Hualien County, near the strongest quake in 25 years' epicenter, as the island's Central News Agency reported hundreds of residents were trapped beneath partially collapsed buildings in the city of Hualien.
A broad and dangerous severe weather outbreak was affecting a large swath of the eastern U.S. from Ohio to Alabama over Tuesday night.
Why it matters: This is the most expansive and significant severe weather threat of the spring season to date, with high winds, hail and tornadoes threatening the affected areas. There were reports of widespread storm damage across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
