Health Fitness Archives - Page 2 of 7

Hitting the right notes to play music by ear

Learning to play music by ear is challenging for most musicians, but research from a team at the University of Waterloo may help musicians-in-training find the right notes. The Waterloo team analyzed a range of YouTube videos that focused on learning music by ear and identified four simple ways music learning technology can better aid…

Zika virus uses cells’ ‘self-care’ system to turn against host

A new study reveals the biological secret to the Zika virus’s infectious success: Zika uses host cells’ own “self-care” system of clearing away useless molecules to suppress the host proteins that the virus has employed to get into those cells in the first place. While these cell surface proteins are valuable for viral entry, they…

A dental floss that can measure stress

Chronic stress can lead to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, decreased immune function, depression, and anxiety. Unfortunately, the tools we use to monitor stress are often imprecise or expensive, relying on self-reporting questionnaires and psychiatric evaluations. Now a Tufts interdisciplinary engineer and his team have devised a simple device using specially designed floss that…

Study discovers DNA switch that controls TB growth, and could help unlock its antibiotic resistance secrets

The bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB) may have an “on-off switch” that lets them pause and restart growth, according to a new study from the University of Surrey and the University of Oxford. The research helps explain why TB is so hard to treat with antibiotics and could pave the way for better drugs. In…

Looking to cut calories? Try adding chilies, study suggests

Throwing a little heat on your meal might be an effective strategy for cutting back on calories, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. Scientists at the University’s Sensory Evaluation Center examined how increasing “oral burn” — the spicy taste from ingredients like chili pepper — affects how much food people…

Could AI understand emotions better than we do?

Is artificial intelligence (AI) capable of suggesting appropriate behaviour in emotionally charged situations? A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University of Bern (UniBE) put six generative AIs — including ChatGPT — to the test using emotional intelligence (EI) assessments typically designed for humans. The outcome: these AIs outperformed average human performance…

A potential ‘anti-spice’ that could dial down the heat of fiery food

If you’ve ever regretted ordering a spicy meal, take note: A new study identifying molecules that suppress the heat of chili peppers hints at the possibility of adapting these compounds into an “anti-spice” condiment for food that’s too fiery to eat. The research helps explain differences in chili pepper pungency, or spiciness, by identifying three…

First vascularized model of stem cell islet cells

Researchers led by Maike Sander, Scientific Director of the Max Delbrück Center, have developed a vascularized organoid model of hormone secreting cells in the pancreas. The advance, published in Developmental Cell, promises to improve diabetes research and cell-based therapies. An international team of researchers led by Max Delbrück Center Scientific Director Professor Maike Sander has…

Social connection is still underappreciated as a medically relevant health factor

Research confirms that social isolation and loneliness significantly impact health and mortality, even if not listed on death certificates. BYU psychology and neuroscience professor, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, has published extensively on the topic, including a landmark 2010 meta-analysis and a 2023 framework on assessment and treatment. She also served as lead scientist on the 2023 Surgeon…

Assembly instructions for enzymes | ScienceDaily

In biology, enzymes have evolved over millions of years to drive chemical reactions. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) now derived universal rules to enable the de novo design of optimal enzymes. As an example, they considered the enzymatic reaction of breaking a dimer into two monomer molecules. Considering the…

Brain drain? More like brain gain: How high-skilled emigration boosts global prosperity

As the national debate intensifies around immigration, a new study from the University of California School of Global Policy and Strategy is challenging conventional wisdom about “brain drain” — the idea that when skilled workers emigrate from developing countries, their home economies suffer. Published in Science, the paper reveals high-skilled emigration from developing countries may…

New ketamine study promises extended relief for depression

Roughly 10 percent of the U.S. population is afflicted with major depressive disorder at any given time, and up to 20 percent will exhibit MDD symptoms over their lifetimes. Yet despite its prevalence, methods to treat MDD often fall short for a not-insignificant portion of the population. Antidepressants — the standard of treatment — don’t…

Are groovy brains more efficient?

Many grooves and dimples on the surface of the brain are unique to humans, but they’re often dismissed as an uninteresting consequence of packing an unusually large brain into a too-small skull. But neuroscientists are finding that these folds are not mere artifacts, like the puffy folds you get when forcing a sleeping bag into…

Personal space chemistry suppressed by perfume and body lotion indoors

In 2022 a team led by the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry discovered that high levels of OH radicals can be generated indoors, simply due to the presence of people and ozone. This means: People generate their own oxidation field and change the indoor air chemistry around them within their own personal space. Now, in…

Language isn’t just for communication — it also shapes how sensory experiences are stored in the brain

Our ability to store information about familiar objects depends on the connection between visual and language processing regions in the brain, according to a study published May 20 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Bo Liu from Beijing Normal University, China, and colleagues. Seeing an object and knowing visual information about it, like its…

Molecules in blood and urine could reveal how much ultra-processed food you eat

Sets of metabolites found in blood and urine reliably correspond with how much energy from ultra-processed food a person consumes, according to a new study published May 20 in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Erikka Loftfield of the National Cancer Institute, USA, and colleagues. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) account for more than half of calories consumed…

Experimental painkiller could outsmart opioids — without the high

An experimental drug developed at Duke University School of Medicine could offer powerful pain relief without the dangerous side effects of opioids. The drug, called SBI-810, is part of a new generation of compounds designed to target a receptor on the nerves and spinal cord. While opioids flood multiple cellular pathways indiscriminately, SBI-810, a non-opioid…

Could nanoplastics in the environment turn E. coli into a bigger villain?

Nanoplastics are everywhere. These fragments are so tiny they can accumulate on bacteria and be taken up by plant roots; they’re in our food, our water, and our bodies. Scientists don’t know the full extent of their impacts on our health, but new research from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign food scientists suggests certain nanoplastics may…

AI-powered app enables anemia screening using fingernail selfies

Anemia affects more than 2 billion people worldwide, including an estimated 83 million Americans at high risk. Now, a new app delivers reliable, accessible screening directly to consumers. A new study co-authored by Chapman University professor and founding dean of the Fowler School of Engineering, Dr. L. Andrew Lyon, unveils a major advancement in noninvasive health…

Scientists discover key gene impacts liver energy storage, affecting metabolic disease risk

A new study published in Science Advances reveals that a single gene plays a big role in how the liver stores energy, a process that’s critical for overall health and for managing diseases like type 2 diabetes. Led by Penn Nursing’s Kate Townsend Creasy, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nutrition Science in the Department of Biobehavioral…

Longer-lasting wearables set to transform health monitoring

Wearable technologies are revolutionizing health care, but design limitations in adhesive-based personal monitors have kept them from meeting their full potential. A new University of Arizona study, published in Nature Communications, describes a longer-lasting, 3D-printed, adhesive-free wearable capable of providing a more comprehensive picture of a user’s physiological state. The device, which measures water vapor…

Overlooked cell type orchestrates brain rewiring

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have upended decades-old dogma of how connections between brain cells are rearranged during states of heightened vigilance or attention. The team found that a brain chemical associated with alertness, attention and learning alters brain connectivity and function not by acting directly on neurons, the cells…

World’s largest bat organoid platform paves the way for pandemic preparedness

Did you know that more than 75% of new infectious diseases affecting humans originally come from animals? Bats, in particular, are natural hosts to some of the world’s most dangerous viruses, including those responsible for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), MERS-CoV, influenza A, and hantavirus outbreaks. Yet, despite their importance, scientists have long struggled to study how these…

Impact of oft-overlooked cell in brain function revealed

An often-ignored type of cell in the brain plays a dynamic and surprisingly complex role in our ability to process information, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University. The study, published today in the journal Science, provides direct evidence for the real-time action of a star-shaped type of glial cell, known as…

Research shows how hormone can reverse fatty liver disease in mice

A pioneering research study published today in Cell Metabolism details how the hormone FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) can reverse the effects of fatty liver disease in mice. The hormone works primarily by signaling the brain to improve liver function. University of Oklahoma researcher Matthew Potthoff, Ph.D., is the lead author of the study, which…

What to expect during hair transplant Istanbul?

hair transplant Istanbul When considering a hair transplant Istanbul, it’s natural to wonder what the process involves and what to expect from start to finish. Istanbul has become a global hub for hair restoration, offering state-of-the-art clinics and expert surgeons. One standout among them is Smile Hair Clinic, which has disciplined its hair transplantation procedures…

Could a mini-stroke leave lasting fatigue?

A transient ischemic attack, also known as a mini-stroke, is typically defined as a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes symptoms that go away within a day, but a new study finds that people who have this type of stroke may also have prolonged fatigue lasting up to one year. The…

Mapping a new brain network for naming

How are we able to recall a word we want to say? This basic ability, called word retrieval, is often compromised in patients with brain damage. Interestingly, many patients who can name words they see, like identifying a pet in the room as a “cat,” struggle with retrieving words in everyday discourse. Scientists have long…

Eldercare robot helps people sit and stand, and catches them if they fall

The United States population is older than it has ever been. Today, the country’s median age is 38.9, which is nearly a decade older than it was in 1980. And the number of adults older than 65 is expected to balloon from 58 million to 82 million by 2050. The challenge of caring for the…

Lower tackle height changing face of women’s rugby, study says

Lower the legal tackle height in women’s rugby is providing effectin in reducing head contacts between players, a world-first study suggests. Changes to the tackle height law in women’s community rugby in Scotland is linked to reductions in head-to-head and head-to shoulder contacts, the study found. A study compared more than 11,000 tackles between the…

Measles virus detected in Houston wastewater before cases were reported

An innovative outbreak detection program that tracks disease-causing viruses in wastewater identified the measles virus in Houston samples collected in early January 2025, before cases were reported. The team that developed the program, which includes researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the School of Public Health at University of Texas Health Science Center – Houston,…

Researchers map 7,000-year-old genetic mutation that protects against HIV

Modern HIV medicine is based on a common genetic mutation. Now, researchers have traced where and when the mutation arose — and how it protected our ancestors from ancient diseases. What do a millennia-old human from the Black Sea region and modern HIV medicine have in common? Quite a lot, it turns out, according to…

Novel, needle-free, live-attenuated influenza vaccines with broad protection against human and avian virus subtypes

A research team led by the School of Public Health in the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with the Centre for Immunology & Infection (C2i), has achieved a significant breakthrough in developing broadly protective, live-attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV). These innovative LAIV platforms offer potential to develop universal influenza…

A more realistic look at DNA in action

By creating a more true-to-life representation of DNA’s environment, researchers at Northwestern University have discovered that strand separation — the essential process a “resting” double helix undergoes before it can initiate replication or make repairs — may take more mechanical force than the field previously believed. Most biochemistry labs that study DNA isolate it within…

Fat-rich fluid fuels immune failure in ovarian cancer

New research led by Irish scientists has uncovered how lipid-rich fluid in the abdomen, known as ascites, plays a central role in weakening the body’s immune response in advanced ovarian cancer. The findings offer new insights into immune suppression in ovarian cancer and open promising avenues for future immunotherapy approaches. Over 70% of patients with…

Antibiotics from human use are contaminating rivers worldwide, study shows

Millions of kilometres of rivers around the world are carrying antibiotic pollution at levels high enough to promote drug resistance and harm aquatic life, a McGill University-led study warns. Published in PNAS Nexus, the study is the first to estimate the scale of global river contamination from human antibiotics use. Researchers calculated that about 8,500…

The origins of language | ScienceDaily

Chimpanzees are capable of complex communication: The human capacity for language may not be as unique as previously thought. Chimpanzees have a complex communication system that allows them to combine calls to create new meanings, similar to human language. Combining calls creatively: Chimpanzees use four ways to change meaning when combining single calls into two-call…

Incidence rates of some cancer types have risen in people under age 50

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have completed a comprehensive analysis of cancer statistics for different age groups in the United States and found that from 2010 through 2019, the incidence of 14 cancer types increased among people under age 50. Of these cancer types, nine — including several common cancers, such as…

3D printing in vivo using sound

Imagine if doctors could precisely print miniature capsules capable of delivering cells needed for tissue repair exactly where they are needed inside a beating heart. A team of scientists led by Caltech has taken a significant step toward that ultimate goal, having developed a method for 3D printing polymers at specific locations deep within living…

Insights on preventing organ transplant rejection

Current treatments to prevent organ transplant rejection focus mainly on suppressing T cells, part of the adaptive immune system. However, the innate immune system — the body’s first line of defense that triggers early inflammation after transplantation — has largely remained untargeted by modern therapies. In a new study, researchers from Mass General Brigham identified…

Discovery of dopamine receptors in a previously overlooked part of the brain sheds light on the complex circuitry for anxiety and depression

Mount Sinai researchers have discovered distinct roles for two dopamine receptors located on nerve cells within the portion of the brain that controls approach vs. avoidance behavior. These receptors potentially influence anxiety and mood disorders whose origins are still unclear. The team characterized the function of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in the ventral hippocampus…

Accelerating drug discovery with a single carbon atom

A research team from the University of Oklahoma has pioneered a groundbreaking method that could accelerate drug discovery and reduce pharmaceutical development costs. Their work, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, introduces a safe, sustainable way to insert a single carbon atom into drug molecules at room temperature. These atoms have versatile…

Study suggests we don’t just hear music, but ‘become it’

An international study co-authored by McGill psychologist Caroline Palmer suggests our brains and bodies don’t just understand music, they physically resonate with it. These discoveries, based on findings in neuroscience, music, and psychology, support Neural Resonance Theory (NRT). NRT maintains that rather than relying on learned expectations or prediction, musical experiences arise from the brain’s…

Gorilla study reveals complex pros and cons of friendship

Friendship comes with complex pros and cons — possibly explaining why some individuals are less sociable, according to a new study of gorillas. Scientists examined over 20 years of data on 164 wild mountain gorillas, to see how their social lives affected their health. Costs and benefits changed depending on the size of gorilla groups,…

A long and ongoing look at the secrets of human longevity and healthy aging

It’s notable when a scientific study reaches the decade mark, but when the topic is the healthy aging of people who have lived 10 times as long, it just means there’s still a lot more to learn. This month, researchers participating in the Cilento Initiative on Aging Outcomes or CIAO study will gather in Acciaroli…

The future of brain activity monitoring may look like a strand of hair

The future of electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring may soon look like a strand of hair. In place of the traditional metal electrodes, a web of wires and sticky adhesives, a team of researchers from Penn State created a hairlike device for long-term, non-invasive monitoring of the brain’s electrical activity. The lightweight and flexible electrode attaches directly…

How cellular quality control contributes to insulin resistance related to type 2 diabetes

Researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center have revealed critical insights into how impaired mitochondrial dynamics and quality control mechanisms in skeletal muscle influence insulin sensitivity in patients with Type 2 Diabetes, or T2D. The study, titled “Deubiquitinating Enzymes Regulate Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Quality Control and Insulin Sensitivity in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes,” was recently…

Antivenom neutralizes the neurotoxins of 19 of the world’s deadliest snakes

By using antibodies from a human donor with a self-induced hyper-immunity to snake venom, scientists have developed the most broadly effective antivenom to date, which is protective against the likes of the black mamba, king cobra, and tiger snakes in mouse trials. Described May 2 in the Cell Press journal Cell, the antivenom combines protective…

The all-female Korean Haenyeo divers show genetic adaptions to cold water diving

The Haenyeo, a group of all-female divers from the Korean island of Jeju, are renowned for their ability to dive in frigid waters without the aid of breathing equipment — even while pregnant. A study publishing on May 2 in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports shows that the divers’ remarkable abilities are due to…

New gene-editing therapy shows early success in fighting advanced GI cancers

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have completed a first-in-human clinical trial testing a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique to help the immune system fight advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The results, recently published in Lancet Oncology, show encouraging signs of safety and potential effectiveness of the treatment. “Despite many advances in understanding the genomic drivers and other…

Process driving evolution and major diseases

Viruses are known to use the genetic machinery of the human cells they invade to make copies of themselves. As part of the process, viruses leave behind remnants throughout the genetic material (genomes) of humans. The virus-like insertions, called “transposable elements,” are snippets of genetic material even simpler than viruses that also use host cell…

Artificial sense of touch, improved

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists are one step closer to developing a brain-computer interface, or BCI, that allows people with tetraplegia to restore their lost sense of touch. While exploring a digitally represented object through their artificially created sense of touch, users described the warm fur of a purring cat, the smooth rigid…

The effects of smoking, drinking and lack of exercise are felt by the age of 36, new research indicates

Bad habits such as smoking, heavy drinking and lack of exercise must be tackled as early as possible to boost the odds of a happy and healthy old age. That is the message of a new peer-reviewed study, published in the Annals of Medicine (Elevate), that found smoking and other vices are associated with declines…

Engineers develop wearable heart attack detection tech

Every second counts when it comes to detecting and treating heart attacks. That’s where a new technology from the University of Mississippi comes in to identify heart attacks faster and more accurately than traditional methods. In a study published in Intelligent Systems, Blockchain and Communication Technologies, electrical and computer engineering assistant professor Kasem Khalil shows…

Breast cancer mortality in women ages 20-49 significantly dropped between 2010 and 2020

From 2010 to 2020, breast cancer deaths among women ages 20-49 declined significantly across all breast cancer subtypes and racial/ethnic groups, with marked declines starting after 2016, according to an analysis of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025, held…

Heart disease deaths worldwide linked to chemical widely used in plastics

Daily exposure to certain chemicals used to make plastic household items could be linked to more than 356,000 global deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone, a new analysis of population surveys shows. While the chemicals, called phthalates, are in widespread use globally, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific bore a…

New machine algorithm could identify cardiovascular risk at the click of a button

An automated machine learning program developed by researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in conjunction with the University of Manitoba has been able to identify potential cardiovascular incidents or fall and fracture risks based on bone density scans taken during routine clinical testing. When applying the algorithm to vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) images taken in…

Global survey highlights the challenges of VR-haptic technology in dental education

A recent global survey of 156 institutions reveals strong interest in VR-haptic technology for dental training, yet significant barriers impede widespread adoption. The study was led by the University of Eastern Finland and published in Frontiers in Dental Medicine. Combining virtual reality with force feedback, VR-haptic technology is becoming more and more common in dental…

Young adults and rise in dry eye disease

Researchers at Aston University have called for more advice to be given to young people about preventing dry eye disease, after a study carried out in conjunction with Oslo University Hospital and Sørlandet Hospital Trust in Norway found that 90% of participants had at least one sign of the condition in their eyes. Dry eye…

Cancer research reveals how chemo impact cells at the molecular level

Proteins play a central role in virtually every disease. They are the building blocks of life, serving as essential components in nearly all cellular processes. They facilitate communication between cells and ensure that biological systems function properly. Put simply, life wouldn’t exist without proteins. That’s why researchers around the world are dedicated to understanding them.…

Single-dose baloxavir reduces household influenza transmission

A landmark study published in The New England Journal of Medicine reveals that a single oral dose of baloxavir marboxil (baloxavir) significantly reduces the transmission of influenza within households, marking a major advancement in influenza management. Conducted by an international team of researchers including the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed),…

AI model for thyroid cancer diagnosis, with over 90% accuracy and reduced consultation preparation time

An interdisciplinary research team from the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), the InnoHK Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (InnoHK D24H), and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) has unveiled the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) model designed to classify both the cancer stage and risk…

Nudges improve food choices and cut calories when shopping for groceries online

A team of Duke-NUS Medical School researchers designed and tested a new digital toolkit that helps consumers make healthier grocery choices online — an innovation that could play a major role in the global fight against chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. In their study, published in the American Journal of Preventive…

Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes

Senescent skin cells, often referred to as zombie cells because they have outlived their usefulness without ever quite dying, have existed in the human body as a seeming paradox, causing inflammation and promoting diseases while also helping the immune system to heal wounds. New findings may explain why: Not all senescent skin cells are the…

New cell therapy shows promising results in advanced tumor diseases

In recent years, cell therapies have developed alongside chemotherapy and immunotherapy to become a new pillar in the treatment of patients with blood and lymph gland cancer. In solid tumors, such as skin, lung, or bone and soft tissue cancer (sarcomas), they have not yet proven themselves as a treatment method. Tumor shrinkage was achieved…

Cinnamon could affect drug metabolism in the body

Cinnamon is one of the oldest and most commonly used spices in the world, but a new study from the National Center for Natural Products Research indicates a compound in it could interfere with some prescription medications. In a recent study published in Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences, researchers at the University of Mississippi center found…

Can technology revolutionize health science? The promise of exposomics

Every breath we take, every meal we eat, and every environment we encounter leaves a molecular fingerprint in our bodies — a hidden record of our lifelong exposures. Researchers in the field of exposomics explain how cutting-edge technologies are unlocking this biological archive, ushering in a new era of disease prevention and personalized medicine. The…

Vision loss fear may keep some from having cataract surgery

Fear of vision loss may deter some patients from undergoing necessary cataract surgery, according to a newly published study. Cataracts are the leading cause of reversible blindness, and surgery remains the only effective treatment. The study, recently published in The Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology, highlights the trust patients place in their physicians and the critical…

Scientists trick the eye into seeing new color ‘olo’

In Frank Baum’s original novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Emerald City is said to be such a brilliant shade of green that visitors must wear green-tinted glasses to protect their eyes from “the brightness and glory” of the city. The glasses are one of the wizard’s many deceits; the city viewed through green-tinted…

Light fields with extraordinary structure: Plasmonic skyrmion bags

A research group at the University of Stuttgart has manipulated light through its interaction with a metal surface so that it exhibits entirely new properties. The researchers have published their findings in Nature Physics. “Our results add another chapter to the emerging field of skyrmion research,” proclaims Prof. Harald Giessen, head of the Fourth Physics…

New technique expands tissues so hundreds of biomolecules can be seen inside cells

For biologists, seeing is believing. But sometimes biologists have a hard time seeing. One particularly vexing challenge is seeing all the molecules in an intact tissue sample, down to the level of single cells, simultaneously. Detecting the location of hundreds or thousands of biomolecules — from lipids to metabolites to proteins — in their native…

Novel treatment approach for language disorder shows promise

Primary progressive aphasia is a neurological condition that causes a gradual decline in language abilities. There is no cure or medication that can reverse or stop the progression of PPA. The standard practice in the clinical setting is speech-language therapy to help people with PPA maintain their ability to communicate. University of Arizona neuroscientists have…

High-fat, high-sugar diets impact cognitive function

New research from the University of Sydney links fatty, sugary diets to impaired brain function. The findings build on a growing body of evidence showing the negative impact of high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) diets on cognitive ability, adding to their well-known physical effects. Published on Friday in the International Journal of Obesity, the research is the…

Integrative approach reveals promising candidates for Alzheimer’s disease risk factors or targets for therapeutic intervention

A study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital provides solutions to the pressing need to identify factors that influence Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk or resistance while providing an avenue to explore…

Lake deposits reveal directional shaking during devastating 1976 Guatemala earthquake

Sediment cores drawn from four lakes in Guatemala record the distinct direction that ground shaking traveled during a 1976 magnitude 7.5 earthquake that devastated the country, according to researchers at the Seismological Society of America’s Annual Meeting. The earthquake, which killed more than 23,000 people and left about 1.5 million people homeless, took place along…

How thoughts influence what the eyes see

When you see a bag of carrots at the grocery store, does your mind go to potatoes and parsnips or buffalo wings and celery? It depends, of course, on whether you’re making a hearty winter stew or getting ready to watch the Super Bowl. Most scientists agree that categorizing an object — like thinking of…

Throwing a ‘spanner in the works’ of our cells’ machinery could help fight cancer, fatty liver disease… and hair loss

Fifty years since its discovery, scientists have finally worked out how a molecular machine found in mitochondria, the ‘powerhouses’ of our cells, allows us to make the fuel we need from sugars, a process vital to all life on Earth. Scientists at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, have worked…

Nontraditional risk factors shed light on unexplained strokes in adults younger than 50

dults younger than 50 years of age had more than double the risk of having a stroke from migraine or other nontraditional stroke risk factors rather than traditional risks such as high blood pressure, according to research published today in Stroke, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American…

A wearable smart insole can track how you walk, run and stand

A new smart insole system that monitors how people walk in real time could help users improve posture and provide early warnings for conditions from plantar fasciitis to Parkinson’s disease. Constructed using 22 small pressure sensors and fueled by small solar panels on the tops of shoes, the system offers real-time health tracking based on…

Researchers report association between urinary incontinence, cardiovascular disease

A University of Iowa-led research team has found that urinary incontinence may be associated with a greater risk for cardiovascular disease in women. Urinary incontinence — the loss of bladder control — is a common condition, especially in older adults. Previous studies have stated that it can affect between 38% and 60% of women. The…

Discovery of FOXR2 activation in various brain tumors refines diagnosis to improve care

Physicians classify brain tumors and determine treatment options, in part, by the genes they express. According to World Health Organization standards, the abnormal activation of oncogene FOXR2 only occurs in central nervous system (CNS) neuroblastoma, but that may not be true. Findings from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital show FOXR2 activation in multiple pediatric CNS…

How do age, sex, hormones and genetics affect dementia biomarkers in the blood?

A new study has found important clues about the roles age, sex, hormonal changes and genetics play in how certain biomarkers for dementia are expressed in the blood, according to a study published on April 16, 2025, online in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. “Blood tests that detect biomarkers for…

Golden eyes: How gold nanoparticles may one day help to restore people’s vision

A new study by Brown University researchers suggests that gold nanoparticles — microscopic bits of gold thousands of times thinner than a human hair — might one day be used to help restore vision in people with macular degeneration and other retinal disorders. In a study published in the journal ACS Nano and supported by…

Gut microbes release cancer-fighting bile acids that block hormone signals

Bacteria naturally present in the human intestine (known as the gut microbiota) can transform cholesterol-derived bile acids into powerful metabolites that strengthen anti-cancer immunity by blocking androgen signaling, according to a preclinical study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The study was published on April 15 in Cell. “I was very surprised by our findings.…

New explanation for muscle memory found in muscle proteins

Researchers investigated the quantities of thousands of muscle proteins and found a possible new explanation for muscle memory. A study by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, showed for the first time that muscles “remember” training at the protein level. The memory trace of previous resistance training persists…

New study finds surprising way to curb college-aged drinking harms — without cutting alcohol

Young adults — particularly college students — are more likely than any other group in the U.S. to engage in heavy drinking and experience alcohol-related consequences. The consequences of heavy drinking — which is defined as four or more drinks per occasion for women and five or more for men — are felt throughout the…

AI tool to better assess Parkinson’s disease, other movement disorders

A University of Florida researcher has developed a groundbreaking open-source computer program that uses artificial intelligence to analyze videos of patients with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. The tool, called VisionMD, helps doctors more accurately monitor subtle motor changes, improving patient care and advancing clinical research. Diego Guarin, Ph.D., an assistant professor of applied…

Genes in bacterial genomes are arranged in a meaningful order

Bioinformaticians from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the university in Linköping (Sweden) have established that the genes in bacterial genomes are arranged in a meaningful order. In the journal Science, they describe that the genes are arranged by function: If they become increasingly important at faster growth, they are located near the origin of…

New strategy may enable cancer monitoring from blood tests alone

A new, error-corrected method for detecting cancer from blood samples is much more sensitive and accurate than prior methods and may be useful for monitoring disease status in patients following treatment, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Genome Center investigators. The method, based on whole-genome sequencing of DNA, also represents…

FDA clears IND for clinical trial testing switchable CAR-T therapy in patients with autoimmune diseases, without chemotherapy

Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines, the drug discovery division of Scripps Research, announced today that the FDA has cleared their investigational new drug (IND) application to study switchable chimeric antigen receptor T cell (sCAR-T) therapy (CLBR001 + SWI019) in patients with autoimmune conditions. Patient recruitment for the phase 1 trial will begin soon (NCT06913608). The…

Rapid growth of blood cancer driven by a single genetic ‘hit’

A new study has unveiled when chronic myeloid leukaemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, arises in life and how fast it grows. Researchers reveal explosive growth rates of cancerous cells years before diagnosis and variation in these rates of growth between patients. Such rapid growth rates had previously not…

AI models of the brain could serve as ‘digital twins’ in research

Much as a pilot might practice maneuvers in a flight simulator, scientists might soon be able to perform experiments on a realistic simulation of the mouse brain. In a new study, Stanford Medicine researchers and collaborators used an artificial intelligence model to build a “digital twin” of the part of the mouse brain that processes…

Driving the CAR to fight acute myeloid leukemia

One main goal of anti-cancer therapies is to kill tumor cells without affecting the surrounding normal cells. Therefore, many drugs are designed to target tumor-specific antigens, which are molecules only expressed by cancer cells. However, it has proven difficult to identify such specific antigens in certain cancer types, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML patients…

Could LLMs help design our next medicines and materials?

The process of discovering molecules that have the properties needed to create new medicines and materials is cumbersome and expensive, consuming vast computational resources and months of human labor to narrow down the enormous space of potential candidates. Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT could streamline this process, but enabling an LLM to understand and…

Certain nasal bacteria may boost the risk for COVID-19 infection, study finds

A new study from researchers at the George Washington University has found that certain bacteria living in the nose may influence how likely someone is to get a COVID-19 infection. Published in EBioMedicine, the research reveals that certain types of nasal bacteria can affect the levels of key proteins the virus needs to enter human…

Eight or more drinks per week linked to signs of injury in the brain

Heavy drinkers who have eight or more alcoholic drinks per week have an increased risk of brain lesions called hyaline arteriolosclerosis, signs of brain injury that are associated with memory and thinking problems, according to a study published on April 9, 2025, online in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The…

Starch-based microplastics could cause health risks in mice

Wear and tear on plastic products releases small to nearly invisible plastic particles, which could impact people’s health when consumed or inhaled. To make these particles biodegradable, researchers created plastics from plant starch instead of petroleum. An initial study published in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows how animals consuming particles from this…

Early education impacts teenage behavior

Researchers explored the long-term effects of preschool expansion in Japan in the 1960s, revealing significant reductions in risky behaviors amongst teenagers. By analyzing regional differences in the rollout of the program, the study identified links between early childhood education and lower rates of juvenile violent arrests and teenage pregnancy. The findings suggest that improved noncognitive…

Eye health linked to dementia risk

A new University of Otago — Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka study has found a link between our eye health and dementia. Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study researchers discovered the blood vessels at the back of the eye — called retinal microvasculature — can show early signs someone is at risk of developing dementia. Co-lead author…

Mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy improve chronic low back pain

The list of treatments for low back pain is endless, but few offer relief for the one in four Americans who suffer from this persistent pain and leading cause of disability globally. More than 80% of those with chronic low back pain wished there were better treatment options. Yet, without sufficient pain relief, many people…

Does teamwork fulfill the goal of project-based learning?

Project-based learning (PBL), which improves skills through various challenges, is a technique utilized in foreign language and general education classes. Though group work in PBL is actively carried out, the impact of the environment and team size on the motivation to learn has not been fully examined. Further, individual factors, such as language ability, can…

How cells repair their power plants

Damage to the genetic material of mitochondria — the mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA for short — can lead to diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Such damage also speeds up the ageing process. However, the cells are normally capable of identifying such damage and reacting. Scientists…

Planetary health diet and Mediterranean diet associated with similar survival and sustainability benefits

Two plant-based diets were associated with similar survival benefits and low environmental impact, according to research presented today at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2025, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Diet contributes significantly to cardiovascular disease mortality, with estimates indicating that across the European region, one in every five premature deaths could…

An antiviral chewing gum to reduce influenza and herpes simplex virus transmission

In today’s interconnected world, infectious diseases pose an escalating threat, as demonstrated by the coronavirus pandemic and outbreaks of H1N1, SARS, Ebola, Zika, and H5N1 (bird flu) viruses — all of which have had significant global health and economic impacts. But more common viral diseases also contribute to global health challenges and economic costs. For…

New research boosts future whooping cough vaccines

Whooping cough, or pertussis, was once a leading cause of death for children in the U.S. and worldwide before the introduction of vaccines in the 1940s. In the decades since, the bacterial disease was nearly eradicated in the U.S., with fatalities falling to double digits each year. But the disease has made a troubling comeback…

No bones about it: New details about skeletal cell aging revealed

It’s no coincidence that our bodies feel a little creakier as we age. The trillions of cells that make up our skeleton age too, and some change in ways that weaken the very structure of our bones. Scientists and researchers around the globe are investigating a series of mysteries about what happens to our bones…

Novel genomic screening tool enables precision reverse-engineering of genetic programming in cells

Collaborative research led by investigators at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center defines a novel approach to understanding how certain proteins called transcription factors determine which genetic programs will drive cell growth and maturation. The method, called “Perturb-multiome,” uses CRISPR to knock out the function of individual transcription factors across many blood cells at…

Drug-delivering aptamers target leukemia stem cells for one-two knockout punch

Drug-carrying DNA aptamers can deliver a one-two punch to leukemia by precisely targeting the elusive cancer stem cells that seed cancer relapses, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report. The aptamers — short single-strand snippets of DNA that can target molecules like larger antibodies do — not only deliver cancer-fighting drugs, but also are…

How GPS helps older drivers stay on the roads

Sat Nav systems help keep older drivers on the roads for longer, according to new research from the University of East Anglia. A new study published today reveals that over 65s with a poorer sense of direction rely more on help from GPS navigation systems such as Sat Nav or smartphone maps. Those using GPS…

Novel point-of-care technology delivers accurate HIV results in minutes

A team of Northwestern University scientists spanning disciplines have developed new technology that could lead to the creation of a rapid point-of-care test for HIV infection competitive with traditional lab-based HIV testing in a fraction of the time and without the need for a stressful wait while results are processed or confirmed in a clinical…

New antibiotic for multidrug resistant superbug

Researchers from the universities in Konstanz and Vienna discover a new class of antibiotic that selectively targets Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhoea. These substances trigger a self-destruction program, which also operates in multi-resistant variants of the pathogen. The novel findings are published in the current issue of Nature Microbiology. In recent years, the…

New insight into factors associated with a common disease among dogs and humans

The pathogens Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium are common causes of sometimes-fatal intestinal diseases in humans, other mammals and birds worldwide. Now, findings from researchers at Texas A&M University provide new, evidence-based insight into minimizing the risk of these diseases at canine facilities. “In adult, healthy humans and animals, these diseases usually cause diarrhea and occasionally…

Combination immunotherapy shrank a variety of metastatic gastrointestinal cancers

A new form of tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, a form of personalized cancer immunotherapy, dramatically improved the treatment’s effectiveness in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal cancers, according to results of a clinical trial led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The findings, published April 1, 2025 in Nature Medicine, offer hopethat this…

Clinical trial unearths hidden hypertension with automated searches of health records

A new study from investigators at Mass General Brigham shows that clues about hypertension may be buried in electronic health records (EHR). Using natural language processing, a form of artificial intelligence, researchers identified patients who had a heart ultrasound indicating thickening of the heart muscle, a condition frequently caused by hypertension. When physicians were notified…

Martian dust could pose health risks to future astronauts

Don’t breathe in the dust on Mars. That’s the takeaway from new research from a team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder. The findings suggests that long-term exposure to Martian dust could create a host of health problems for future astronauts — leading to chronic respiratory problems, thyroid disease and more.…

Cold plunges actually change your cells

Ever wondered what happens to your body when you take those trendy ice baths? Scientists at the University of Ottawa just found out, and it’s pretty fascinating. A new study conducted at the Human and Environmental Physiology Research lab (HEPRU) at the University of Ottawa has unveiled significant findings on the effects of cold water…

Meniscus injuries may soon be treated by customizable hydrogel

Meniscus tears are common knee injuries that have long frustrated patients and doctors due to limited repair options.A new 3D-printed hydrogel made from cow meniscus could transform how these injuries heal, according to results of a pre-clinical study published in Bioactive Materials. from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.…

Discrimination-related depression, anxiety pronounced among multiracial, White, Asian populations

A new study found that more than half of US adults encounter some form of discrimination, and that this mistreatment may fuel higher chances of depression and/or anxiety among specific racial and ethnic groups due to cultural, social, and systemic factors. A growing body of research has drawn connections between everyday discrimination — the routine…

Researchers identify mutations that can lead to resistance to some chemotherapies

Investigators at Mass General Brigham have uncovered how resistance to chemotherapies may occur in some cancers. Researchers focused on a pathway that harnesses reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill cancer cells. The study found that mutations to VPS35, a key player in this pathway, can prevent chemotherapy-induced cell death. These results, published in Nature, could…

New approach could treat anthrax beyond the ‘point of no return’

Anthrax, an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is often treatable in its early stages. But once the disease has progressed beyond the “point of no return” after just a few days, patients are almost certainly doomed. In a new Nature Microbiologystudy, University of Pittsburgh researchers show that a cocktail of growth factors…

Compelling data point to a single, unknown respiratory virus as cause of Kawasaki disease

Research from Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago strongly suggests that Kawasaki disease is caused by a single respiratory virus that is yet to be identified. Findings contradict the theory that many different pathogens or toxins could cause this disease that can lead to serious cardiac…

A genetic tree as a movie: Moving beyond the still portrait of ancestry

University of Michigan researchers have developed a statistical method that can be used for such wide-ranging applications as tracing your ancestry, modeling disease spread and studying how animals spread through geographic regions. One of the method’s applications is to give a more complete sense of human ancestry, says Gideon Bradburd, U-M professor of ecology and…

Long COVID patients feel pressure to prove their illness is real, study finds

People living with Long Covid often feel dismissed, disbelieved and unsupported by their healthcare providers, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. The study, which was published in the Journal of Health Psychology, looked at how patients with Long Covid experience their illness. The study found that many patients feel they have…

Children of moms who smoked or were obese are more likely to become obese adults

A study finds that factors beyond a person’s control, like socioeconomic status and whether their mom smoked or was obese, can influence whether they are overweight or obese as teenagers or adults. Glenna Nightingale of the University of Edinburgh, UK and colleagues report these findings on March 26, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One.…

mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines train the ‘long-term memory’ of the immune system

Researchers at the University of Cologne and University Hospital Cologne have shown in their study that the novel mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines not only induce acquired immune responses such as antibody production, but also cause persistent epigenetic changes in innate immune cells. The study ‘Persistent epigenetic memory of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in monocyte-derived macrophages’ led by…

‘Low-sugar’ vaccine can provide broad immunity against coronavirus variants

Sugar coatings aren’t only for candies; they also help viruses, like the ones that cause COVID-19, hide from their hosts’ immune system. Now, researchers have developed a universal vaccine that targets coronaviruses and the sugars that they use as cover. As demonstrated in animal studies, the vaccine removed sugar molecules from an area of a…

Slowing down to eat less: Towards simple strategies for obesity prevention

Obesity is linked to numerous health complications, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease. In a world where obesity rates continue to climb, researchers are constantly seeking effective, accessible solutions to this global health crisis. Interestingly, over the past few decades, scientists have begun to focus not only on what we eat but also…

A simple way to boost math progress

American students have been falling behind in math for decades — with test scores that consistently rank in the bottom 25% globally compared to students in other developed countries — and the COVID-19 pandemic made the situation worse. Previous research has shown that interventions grounded in behavioral science that target student motivation have been effective…

Healthy eating in midlife linked to overall healthy aging

Maintaining a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods, with low to moderate intake of healthy animal-based foods and lower intake of ultra-processed foods, was linked to a higher likelihood of healthy aging — defined as reaching age 70 free of major chronic diseases and with cognitive, physical, and mental health maintained, according to a new…

How the brain links related memories formed close in time

If you’ve ever noticed how memories from the same day seem connected while events from weeks apart feel separate, a new study reveals the reason: Our brains physically link memories that occur close in time not in the cell bodies of neurons, but rather in their spiny extensions called dendrites. This discovery stems from studies…

Groundbreaking light-driven method to create key drug compounds

Traditionally, chemists have relied on well-established but limiting methods to synthesize these molecules. The new research, co-authored by Kevin Brown, the James F. Jackson Professor of Chemistry in the College, and Professors Xiaotian Qi, Wang Wang, and Bodi Zhao of Wuhan University, presents a fundamentally different approach. Researchers at Indiana University and Wuhan University in…

Bubbly idea: Ultrafine bubble showers suppress atopic dermatitis

Bubble baths might be soothing soaks, but bubble showers could be the next thing in keeping the skin clean. An Osaka Metropolitan University-led medical research team found that ultrafine bubble showers might help prevent atopic dermatitis. Graduate School of Medicine student Ayaki Matsumoto and Associate Professor Hisayoshi Imanishi led the study into using ultrafine bubbles,…

Transition point in romantic relationships signals the beginning of their end

The end of a romantic relationship usually does not come out of the blue but is indicated one or two years before the breakup. As the results of a psychological study have demonstrated, the terminal stage of a relationship consists of two phases. First, there is a gradual decline in relationship satisfaction, reaching a transition…

Peacekeeper cells protect the body from autoimmunity during infection

During infections, the immune system needs to distinguish foreign antigens that are expressed by invading bacteria and viruses from self-antigens that are expressed by cells of the body. If not, the immune system can mistakenly attack its own cells, causing lasting damage to tissue and potential long-term disease. New research from the University of Chicago…

New eye drops slow vision loss in animals

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed eye drops that extend vision in animal models of a group of inherited diseases that lead to progressive vision loss in humans, known as retinitis pigmentosa. The eye drops contain a small fragment derived from a protein made by the body and found in the…

Why do lymphatic vessels form a jigsaw puzzle-like pattern?

The lymphatic system plays a key role in maintaining the body’s fluid balance and supporting immune defences. Lymphatic vessels are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells, allowing the transfer of fluids, cells and large molecules from surrounding tissues into the vessels. These vessels must be highly permeable to efficiently absorb and transport fluid,…

Anti-amyloid drug shows signs of preventing Alzheimer’s dementia

An experimental drug appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s-related dementia in people destined to develop the disease in their 30s, 40s or 50s, according to the results of a study led by the Knight Family Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network-Trials Unit (DIAN-TU), which is based at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The…

Stroke rehabilitation drug repairs brain damage

A new study by UCLA Health has discovered what researchers say is the first drug to fully reproduce the effects of physical stroke rehabilitation in model mice, following from human studies. The findings, published in Nature Communications, tested two candidate drugs derived from their studies on the mechanism of the brain effects of rehabilitation, of…

Scientists discover protein key to bacteria’s survival in extreme environments

Scientists have discovered a protein that enables bacteria to shut down into dormant spores under extreme conditions. The process, which enables the bacteria to become practically indestructible, explains why bacteria can survive in uninhabitable places such as under the permafrost, in the depths of the ocean or in outer space. This ability to sporulate, known…

A rubber hand alleviates pain

If a person hides their own hand and focuses on a rubber hand instead, they may perceive it as part of their own body under certain conditions. What sounds like a gimmick could one day be used to help patients who suffer from chronic pain: Researchers at the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at…

New AI model analyzes full night of sleep with high accuracy in largest study of its kind

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine have developed a powerful AI tool, built on the same transformer architecture used by large language models like ChatGPT, to process an entire night’s sleep. To date, it is one of the largest studies, analyzing 1,011,192 hours of sleep. Details on their findings were reported in the March…

Psychological prehabilitation improves surgical recovery

A new analysis led by surgeons at UCLA Health finds that psychological prehabilitation can significantly enhance recovery after surgery. The research, led by Anne E. Hall in the lab of Dr. Justine Lee analyzed data from 20 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted between 2004 and 2024, involving a total of 2,376 patients. It is published…

Scientists discover how to reactivate cancer’s molecular ‘kill switch’

Alternative RNA splicing is like a movie editor cutting and rearranging scenes from the same footage to create different versions of a film. By selecting which scenes to keep and which to leave out, the editor can produce a drama, a comedy, or even a thriller — all from the same raw material. Similarly, cells…

Immunotherapy may boost KRAS-targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer

Adding immunotherapy to a new type of inhibitor that targets multiple forms of the cancer-causing gene mutation KRAS kept pancreatic cancer at bay in preclinical models for significantly longer than the same targeted therapy by itself, according to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer…

New clue on what is leading to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and ALS

In Nature Neuroscience, UConn School of Medicine researchers have revealed a new scientific clue that could unlock the key cellular pathway leading to devastating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, and the progressive damage to the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes in frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and the associated disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, “Endothelial…

Older adults might be more resistant to bird flu infections than children

Prior exposures to specific types of seasonal influenza viruses promote cross-reactive immunity against the H5N1 avian influenza virus, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Older adults who were exposed to seasonal flu viruses that circulated prior to 1968 were found to be more likely to have…

Quantum-inspired cameras capture the start of life

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have performed the first imaging of embryos using cameras designed for quantum measurements. The University’s Centre of Light for Life academics investigated how to best use ultrasensitive camera technology, including the latest generation of cameras that can count individual packets of light energy at each pixel, for life sciences.…

Study highlights noninvasive hearing aid

A study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine highlights a new approach in addressing conductive hearing loss. A team of scientists, led by Mohammad J. Moghimi, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering, designed a new type of hearing aid that not only improves hearing but also offers a safe, non-invasive alternative to…

Chocolate — with potential health benefits

Many people will soon load up Easter baskets with chocolate candy for children and adults to enjoy. On its own, dark chocolate has health benefits, such as antioxidants that neutralize damaging free radicals. And a report in ACS Food Science & Technology suggests that packing the sweet treat with pre- and probiotics could make it…

Researchers develop method to identify dormant cells that carry HIV

Mount Sinai researchers have developed a method to uncover the hidden immune cells that harbor the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a discovery that brings medical experts one step closer to a cure for the infection affecting nearly 40 million people globally. The findings were published in Nature Communications on March 6. HIV is a virus…

Targeted alpha therapy: Breakthrough in treating refractory skin cancer

Metastatic melanoma, also known as stage IV melanoma, is a type of skin cancer that spreads to other parts of the body. It is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, with current therapies — including immunotherapy and targeted drugs — showing limited effectiveness. Radiotherapy is an emerging treatment for melanoma, but conventional…

Routine asthma test more reliable in the morning and has seasonal effects, say doctors

A lung function test used to help diagnose asthma works better in the morning, becoming less reliable throughout the day, Cambridge researchers have found. Using real world data from 1,600 patients, available through a database created for speeding up research and innovation, the team also found that its reliability differs significantly in winter compared to…

Medical infusion bags can release microplastics

Microplastics have been found almost everywhere that scientists have looked for them. Now, according to research published in the ACS partner journal Environment & Health, these bits of plastic — from 1 to 62 micrometers long — are present in the filtered solutions used for medical intravenous (IV) infusions. The researchers estimate that thousands of…

Scientists create a type of catalog, the ‘colocatome,’ of non-cancerous cells’ influence on cancer

Even cells experience peer pressure. Scientists have long studied the ins and outs of cancer cells to learn more about the disease, but they’re increasingly finding that noncancerous cells near the cancer cells exert a powerful influence over a tumor’s trajectory. “Not all cells in a tumor are cancer cells — they’re not even always…

Beneficial genetic changes observed in regular blood donors

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified genetic changes in blood stem cells from frequent blood donors that support the production of new, non-cancerous cells. Understanding the differences in the mutations that accumulate in our blood stem cells as we age is important to understand how and why blood cancers develop and hopefully how…

Genetic mutations linked to toxin exposure found in firefighters’ brain tumors

Occupational and environmental exposures can put specific groups of people at higher risk of cancer, including firefighters. A new study by investigators at Mass General Brigham examines a cancer rarely studied in firefighters: gliomas — a type of tumor that forms in the brain or spinal cord. Using glioma tumor samples from the University of…

Levels of select vitamins and minerals in pregnancy may be linked to lower midlife BP risk

Women with higher levels of essential minerals circulating in their blood during pregnancy, particularly copper and manganese, along with vitamin B12, had a lower risk of developing high blood pressure in middle age, about 20 years later, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific…

Clinical trial tests novel stem-cell treatment for Parkinson’s disease

A recently launched Phase 1 clinical trial at Mass General Brigham is examining the safety and feasibility of a groundbreaking treatment approach for Parkinson’s disease in which a patient’s stem cells are reprogrammed to replace dopamine cells in the brain damaged by the disease. The first-of-its-kind trial of an autologous stem cell transplant, based on…

Large study of dietary habits suggests more plant oils, less butter could lead to better health

People who consume plant-based oil instead of butter may experience beneficial health effects and even have a lower risk of premature death, according to a new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. The researchers examined diet and health data…

Breakthrough cardiac regeneration research offers hope for the treatment of ischemic heart failure

Researchers in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, and collaborating institutions report a groundbreaking discovery in cardiac regeneration that offers new hope for the treatment of ischemic heart failure. Published in npj Regenerative Medicine, the study reveals a novel approach…

Uncovering dementia’s environmental triggers | ScienceDaily

A new study from the University of Georgia College of Public Health focuses on the powerful role our surroundings play in shaping dementia risk. Led by Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management Suhang Song, this meta-analysis demonstrates that factors including air pollution and access to green or blue spaces can significantly raise or lower…

Researchers create gel that can self-heal like human skin

We all encounter gels in daily life — from the soft, sticky substances you put in your hair, to the jelly-like components in various foodstuffs. While human skin shares gel-like characteristics, it has unique qualities that are very hard to replicate. It combines high stiffness with flexibility, and it has remarkable self-healing capabilities, often healing…

Memory is impaired in aged rats after 3 days of high-fat eating

Just a few days of eating a diet high in saturated fat could be enough to cause memory problems and related brain inflammation in older adults, a new study in rats suggests. Researchers fed separate groups of young and old rats the high-fat diet for three days or for three months to compare how quickly…

Paralyzed man moves robotic arm with his thoughts

Researchers at UC San Francisco have enabled a man who is paralyzed to control a robotic arm through a device that relays signals from his brain to a computer. He was able to grasp, move and drop objects just by imagining himself performing the actions. The device, known as a brain-computer interface (BCI), worked for…

Feeling is believing: Bionic hand ‘knows’ what it’s touching, grasps like a human

Johns Hopkins University engineers have developed a pioneering prosthetic hand that can grip plush toys, water bottles, and other everyday objects like a human, carefully conforming and adjusting its grasp to avoid damaging or mishandling whatever it holds. The system’s hybrid design is a first for robotic hands, which have typically been too rigid or…

New antibodies show potential to defeat all SARS-CoV-2 variants

A Stanford-led team has found two antibodies that can work together to defeat all SARS-CoV-2 variants. More research is needed, but the approach could help in the development of treatments to keep pace with evolving viruses. The virus that causes COVID-19 has been very good at mutating to keep infecting people — so good that…

Creativity boosts standardized literacy and numeracy test scores: Australia

When ‘Elephant’ toothpaste erupts from the science lab, history deals up Pokémon playing cards, and math class bakes a batch of chocolate brownies, it might seem like chaos. Yet, a groundbreaking study from University of South Australia researchers, shows that creativity plays an essential role in academic success, suggesting that students who think outside the…

Prenatal maternal stressors linked to higher blood pressure during first year after birth, study shows

Psychosocial stress during pregnancy could lead to higher blood pressure during the first year postpartum according to research from Keck School of Medicine of USC. The study, published in Hypertension and supported by the National Institutes of Health, investigated whether mothers who reported higher perceived stress and depressive symptoms during pregnancy, developed higher blood pressure…

Lack of medical oxygen affects millions

Six out of every ten people globally lack access to safe medical oxygen, resulting in hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year and reducing quality of life for millions more, an international report co-authored by the University of Auckland has found. Associate Professor Stephen Howie from the University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences…

Don’t let this stress you out

Having one traumatic experience is bad enough. If you’ve constantly experienced stress since before birth, you may be in for an especially tough time. Our emotions may be influenced by infections experienced in the mother’s womb. This can result from two-hit stress, where an infection during pregnancy is followed by social stress during postpartum development.…

Key protein identified for understanding and treating Alzheimer’s disease

A research team at the University of Cologne has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the role of the tau protein in Alzheimer’s disease. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the international team has been able to show that a specific form of the tau protein, known as the 1N4R isoform, is responsible for…

Scientists solve mystery of how the drug retinoic acid works to treat neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a solid tumor that occurs in children. When high-risk, the disease has a poor prognosis. Decades ago, adding the drug retinoic acid to neuroblastoma treatment increased survival by 10-15%. However, this effect was only evident in post-chemotherapy consolidation after bulky primary tumors had largely been eliminated. Why retinoic acid is effective in this…

How air pollution and wildfire smoke may contribute to memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease

Air pollution contributes to nearly 7 million premature deaths each year, and its effects go far beyond the lungs. Breathing in wildfire smoke or automobile-related city smog doesn’t just increase the risk of asthma and heart disease — it may also contribute to brain conditions as diverse as Alzheimer’s and autism. Scientists at Scripps Research…

How many languages can you learn at the same time? — Ghanaian babies grow up speaking two to six languages

Africa is a multilingual continent and many adults speak several languages fluently. An empirical study by a research team led by the Potsdam psycholinguists Prof. Dr. Natalie Boll-Avetisyan and Paul O. Omane now shows that the roots of this multilingualism can be found in infancy: In Ghana, most babies grow up multilingually, with most of…

Obesity starts in the brain

The number of obese persons has grown significantly in recent decades, which presents significant difficulties for those who are impacted, healthcare systems, and those who provide treatment. The hormone insulin plays a key role in the development of obesity. Up until recently, there have been numerous signs indicating insulin causes neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders, especially…

Peristaltic pump flow induces amyloid formation

The factor that tips you over the edge from being at risk for a disease to actually developing the disease is not always clear. Now, researchers from Japan report one factor that triggers problematic proteins to start behaving badly. In a study published recently in npj biosensing, researchers from Osaka University have revealed that high…

Violence alters human genes for generations, researchers discover

In 1982, the Syrian government besieged the city of Hama, killing tens of thousands of its own citizens in sectarian violence. Four decades later, rebels used the memory of the massacre to help inspire the toppling of the Assad family that had overseen the operation. But there is another lasting effect of the attack, hidden…

A clear game-changer: Water-repellent glass breaks new ground

Curtin University researchers have developed a new technique to make glass water-repellent, a feature that could improve safety in vehicles, reduce cleaning costs for buildings and enhance filtration systems. The research, published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, shows how an innovative and non-toxic process using ultrasonic sound waves can alter the surface of glass,…

Problem-based learning helps students stay in school

Education experts at the University of South Australia are encouraging schools to consider problem-based learning (PBL) in a move to improve engagement and creativity among high school students. The call follows new Productivity Commission data that shows national school attendance rates over the past year have decreased from 88.8% in Year 7 to 84% in…

Drug may prevent some migraine attacks in children and teens

For children and teens living with migraine, there may be a new preventive treatment, according to a preliminary study released today, February 26, 2025, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5-9, 2025, in San Diego and online. Researchers found the drug zonisamide, which has been…

Automatic cell analysis with the help of artificial intelligence

Identifying and delineating cell structures in microscopy images is crucial for understanding the complex processes of life. This task is called “segmentation” and it enables a range of applications, such as analysing the reaction of cells to drug treatments, or comparing cell structures in different genotypes. It was already possible to carry out automatic segmentation…

First female runner could soon break the 4-minute-mile barrier

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister pushed through the finishing tape at Iffley Road track in Oxford, England, and collapsed into the arms of friends after becoming the first human to run a mile in less than four minutes. “It was the running equivalent to summiting Mount Everest for the first time,” said University of…

Immune ‘fingerprints’ aid diagnosis of complex diseases

Your immune system harbors a lifetime’s worth of information about threats it’s encountered — a biological Rolodex of baddies. Often the perpetrators are viruses and bacteria you’ve conquered; others are undercover agents like vaccines given to trigger protective immune responses or even red herrings in the form of healthy tissue caught in immunological crossfire. Now…

DNA origami suggests route to reusable, multifunctional biosensors

Using an approach called DNA origami, scientists at Caltech have developed a technique that could lead to cheaper, reusable biomarker sensors for quickly detecting proteins in bodily fluids, eliminating the need to send samples out to lab centers for testing. “Our work provides a proof-of-concept showing a path to a single-step method that could be…

Viking skulls reveal severe morbidity

Sweden’s Viking Age population appears to have suffered from severe oral and maxillofacial disease, sinus and ear infections, osteoarthritis, and much more. This is shown in a study from the University of Gothenburg in which Viking skulls were examined using modern X-ray techniques. About a year ago saw the publication of research based on the…

Butterfly wings inspire new imaging technique for cancer diagnosis

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have found an unusual ally in the quest to make cancer diagnosis faster, more accurate and more accessible worldwide: the Morpho butterfly. Known for its shimmering blue wings, the Morpho butterfly owes its brilliance not to pigments but to microscopic structures that manipulate light. Now, researchers are…

Brain-wide activity change visualized as geometric patterns

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have applied a visualization technique to depict the brain’s activity related to visual perception as geometric patterns. They visualized different shapes as the ever-changing neuronal activity in the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain during object recognition and recalling memories. This achievement promises further extraction of brain activity observed…

The brain perceives unexpected pain more strongly

Pain perception can vary greatly. Sometimes, we feel pain more intensely than expected due to an injury or physical ailment but may feel less intense pain at other similar instances. This variability indicates that our perception of pain is highly dependent on our expectations and uncertainty. Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain how the…

Impacts of workplace bullying on sleep can be ‘contagious’ between partners

Exposure to bullying by superiors and/or colleagues has been linked to a variety of negative health outcomes, such as sleep problems. Now research by the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK, and Complutense University of Madrid and Seville University in Spain, sheds light on the short-term consequences of workplace bullying on various indicators…

Biobased lignin gels offer sustainable alternative for hair conditioning

Researchers at Stockholm University have developed a fully biobased hair conditioner using lignin gel emulsions, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional haircare products. Hair conditioners typically contain 20-30 ingredients, many derived from petroleum and oleochemicals, raising concerns about sustainability and environmental impact. A new study published in Science Advances, demonstrates that micellar…

Early study shows promise for retinal-surgery robot

When even the most highly trained surgeons perform procedures on the retina — one of the smallest, most delicate parts of the human body — the stakes are high. Surgeons must account for patients’ breathing, snoring, and eye movements, along with their own involuntary hand tremors, while they work on a layer of cells less…

Deep Nanometry reveals hidden nanoparticles

Researchers including those from the University of Tokyo developed Deep Nanometry, an analytical technique combining advanced optical equipment with a noise removal algorithm based on unsupervised deep learning. Deep Nanometry can analyze nanoparticles in medical samples at high speed, making it possible to accurately detect even trace amounts of rare particles. This has proven its…

Pulmonary fibrosis: Study targets proteins to reverse lung scarring

A discovery at Duke-NUS Medical School offers new hope in the battle against pulmonary fibrosis, a debilitating lung condition that progressively makes it harder for patients to breathe. Scientists have pinpointed proteins in immune cells that, when blocked, could significantly reduce lung tissue scarring. Current treatments primarily manage symptoms and improving quality of life, without…

Nerves electrify stomach cancer, sparking growth and spread

Researchers have discovered that stomach cancers make electrical connections with nearby sensory nerves and use these malignant circuits to stimulate the cancer’s growth and spread. It is the first time that electrical contacts between nerves and a cancer outside the brain have been found, raising the possibility that many other cancers progress by making similar…

‘Healthy’ vitamin B12 levels not enough to ward off neuro decline

Meeting the minimum requirement for vitamin B12, needed to make DNA, red blood cells and nerve tissue, may not actually be enough — particularly if you are older. It may even put you at risk for cognitive impairment. A new study, led by UC San Francisco researchers, found that older, healthy volunteers, with lower concentrations…

Avoiding the workplace mediocrity trap

Confidence. Persistence. Ingenuity. Conventional wisdom tells us these are some of the traits needed for success at the office. But within teams, less laudable characteristics — maintaining the status quo, for instance — might be just as desirable, according to new Rutgers research. Cong Liu, an expert on organizational thinking at the Rutgers Graduate School…

Air inside your home may be more polluted than outside due to everyday chemical products

When you walk through a pine forest, the crisp, fresh scent is one of the first things you notice. But bringing that pine scent or other aromas indoors with the help of chemical products — yes, air fresheners, wax melts, floor cleaners, deodorants and others — rapidly fills the air with nanoscale particles that are…

Global action needed to solve the medical oxygen crisis

Targets for universal access, national roadmaps and more affordable and accessible care are vital to help fill the medical oxygen gap affecting more than half of the world’s population, according to a new global report. The Lancet Global Health Commission report details for the first time how future investment in strengthening medical oxygen systems could…

An enzyme to disarm tumors

When a tumour develops, it creates a structure around itself called the tumour stroma, within which blood and lymphatic vessels ensure nutritional and respiratory biological exchanges. Lymphangiogenesis, i.e. the development of lymphatic vessels, is generally associated with a poor prognosis, as it favours the spread of metastases to other organs. By studying the cells that…

Gene therapy for rare epilepsy shows promise in mice

Dravet syndrome and other developmental epileptic encephalopathies are rare but devastating conditions that cause a host of symptoms in children, including seizures, intellectual disability, and even sudden death. Most cases are caused by a genetic mutation; Dravet syndrome in particular is most often caused by variants in the sodium channel gene SCN1A. Recent research from…