Researchers have developed a new “body clock” tool that calculates people’s biological age — and could even predict the risk of disability or death. The tool, which comes from the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, uses eight different metrics from a patient’s physical exam and bloodwork to determine the results, according to a press release … Read more
Some researchers are sounding the alarm about a potentially deadly fungus that could spread throughout parts of the US, Europe and Asia. The study article, which was published in pre-print (not yet peer-reviewed) in Research Square, claims that “rising global temperatures” could lead to severe infections of Aspergillus, a fungal mold that thrives in warm, damp climates. … Read more
As the Trump administration slashes support to research institutions and threatens to freeze federal funding to universities like Harvard and Columbia, European leaders are offering financial help to U.S.-based researchers and hoping to benefit from what they are calling a “gigantic miscalculation.” “Nobody could imagine a few years ago that one of the great democracies … Read more
The Trump administration has asked researchers and organizations whose work is conducted overseas to disclose ties to those regarded as hostile, including “entities associated with communist, socialist or totalitarian parties,” according to a questionnaire obtained by The New York Times. The online survey was sent this week to groups working abroad to research diseases like … Read more
Can Paxlovid treat long Covid? A new report suggests it might help some patients, but which patients might benefit remains unclear. The report, published Monday in the journal Communications Medicine, describes the cases of 13 long Covid patients who took extended courses of the antiviral drug. Results were decidedly mixed: Nine patients reported some improvement, … Read more
The brain plays a big part in the aging process, and scientists think they’ve pinpointed the specific cells that control it. In a study of mice, researchers at the Allen Institute identified certain cells that showed “major changes” with age, particularly in one specific “hotspot,” according to a press release. Mice were chosen because their brains … Read more
Dogs first became “man’s best friend” at least 12,000 years ago, new research suggests. Indigenous people in the Americas began forming close relationships with the ancestors of today’s dogs around 2,000 years earlier than previously recorded on the continent, based on remains found in Alaska. Researchers unearthed a tibia, or lower-leg bone, of an adult … Read more
These are some power moves. New research reveals that the chances of infidelity are “significantly higher” among powerful people. “In a romantic relationship, these power dynamics might lead the more powerful partner to think they bring more to the table than their less powerful partner,” said professor Gurit Birnbaum, lead author of the study, which … Read more
Researchers have developed zombie duck drones made from the bodies of dead birds. A team at New Mexico Tech has found a way to use body parts to create realistic avian imposters. They believe the drones would aid wildlife monitoring by blending in a natural environment. Researchers have developed zombie duck drones made from the … Read more
Young adults who develop colon cancer tend to be diagnosed at later stages of the devastating disease — and have more aggressive types of tumors, new research finds. The study authors “strongly” link colon cancer in young people to obesity, family history of the illness, inflammatory bowel disease and symptoms such as stomach pain and … Read more
New technology could make it significantly easier to monitor patients’ vital health signs. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an electronic finger wrap that monitors important chemical levels — such as glucose, vitamins and even drugs — using only human sweat, the university stated in a news release. The wearable innovation … Read more
They’re giving props to nasal drops. UK researchers say that hypertonic saline nasal drops can shorten a kid’s cold by two days and reduce the risk of family members getting sick too. Kids have up to 10 to 12 upper respiratory tract infections a year, the researchers said. AntonioDiaz – stock.adobe.com “Children have up to … Read more
A pregnant 7-foot porbeagle shark appeared to have been eaten by an even larger shark in what researchers believe is the first such evidence of the ocean hunter becoming the hunted. Researchers captured the porbeagle shark near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in late October 2020 and attached two tracker tags – one mounted on the shark’s … Read more
Hold the phone! New research out of China suggests a link between cellphone use and an increased risk of heart disease, especially among smokers and diabetics. The study authors partly blame this association on poor sleep, psychological stress and neuroticism. “A poor sleep pattern and poor mental health may adversely affect the development of cardiovascular … Read more
We’re barking up the wrong trees. A new study reveals that a majority of the 7 million trees in New York City are emitting “volatile compounds” that do more harm than good for our air quality — especially during scorching heat. “We’re all for planting more trees. They bring so many good things,” said study … Read more
Researchers are going bananas. A new scientific paper reports that chimpanzees “are capable of” producing sounds that mimic words they hear from people. It follows recent research revealing that chimpanzees can gesture to one another in conversation like humans. The new research looked at two archived videos of chimps “uttering” words on camera — one … Read more
Why would a humble Chinese noodle maker be buried in a tomb fit for an emperor? And why would a Westerner – complete with blonde hair – be important enough to commemorate on its walls? Archaeologists in northern China have unearthed a small but richly decorated 1,200-year-old tomb on a mountain outside Taiyuan, the capital of China’s … Read more
Nausea is one of the most frequently reported side effects of obesity and Type 2 diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy — and one of the major reasons why some users quit taking them. Now, scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia say they have found a collection of neurons in the brain … Read more
Pigs might not fly, but it turns out that hippos can get seriously airborne. Surprise new research from the Royal Veterinary College in England has uncovered that the African animals launch all four of their feet in the air 15% of the time whilst running at full speed. Reviewed video footage found that the hefty … Read more
Last call for your airplane cocktail? Researchers are calling for limits to in-flight alcoholic beverages after finding that plane passengers who drank before dozing off during long-haul flights risked their heart health. The combination of alcohol consumption and cabin pressure at cruising altitude can have negative effects on napping passengers’ hearts, according to a new … Read more