Zeroing in on what makes cigarette smoking so unhealthy could someday lead to a cigarette that may be a bit safer to smoke

According to lab tests at the University of California-Davis, researchers say oxidants like hydrogen peroxide found in cigarette smoke caused lung cells to show the beginnings of cancer development just as much as the cigarette smoke itself.

Although cigarettes are known to contain dozens of different carcinogens, researchers say identifying them could help manufacturers know what to take out of them to make them less harmful.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death in the United States.

In other medical news…

European chemists say they think they've come up with a way to make eggs less allergenic.

When they exposed raw eggs to high heat and enzymes, they say the main allergens were broken down.

Researchers tested the reduced-allergen egg to blood serum from people with an egg allergy, and found the modified egg product was 100 times less allergenic than regular, raw eggs.

And they say the process did not significantly affect flavor or texture.