Birds breathe in dangerous plastics -- and so do we

Microscopic plastic pollutants drifting through the air are lodging in the lungs of birds, a new study finds. Researchers worldwide are increasingly alarmed by how pervasive these harmful particles are in the air humans breathe and the food they eat.

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Associative learning: Primary school children outperform all other age groups

The ability to make the connection between an event and its consequences -- experts use the term associative learning -- is a crucial skill for adapting to the environment. It has a huge impact on our mental health. A study shows that children of primary school age demonstrate the highest learning performance in this area. The results pave the way for a fresh perspective on associative learning disorders, which are linked to the development of mental illness later in life.

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A protein from tiny tardigrades may help cancer patients tolerate radiation therapy

Drawing inspiration from the tardigrade, researchers developed a new strategy that may protect cancer patients from the side effects of radiation therapy.

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Screening and treating maternal psychological health key to improving cardiovascular health

Identifying and treating risk factors for depression, anxiety and other psychological health conditions during pregnancy and postpartum may improve short- and long-term health outcomes for both mother and child, according to a new scientific statement.

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Modifying graphene with plasma to produce better gas sensors

Gas sensors are essential for personal safety and environmental monitoring, but traditional sensors have limitations in sensitivity and energy efficiency. Now, researchers have developed an improved gas-sensing technology by treating graphene sheets with plasma under different conditions, creating structural and chemical defects that enhance ammonia detection. These functionalized graphene sheets exhibited superior sensing performance compared to pristine graphene, potentially paving the way for wearable gas detection devices for everyday use.

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Research challenges our understanding of cancer predisposition

New findings question assumptions of cancer formation in individuals with the cancer-predisposition syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, and offer hope for a personalized approach to early cancer recognition including for those with similar conditions.

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What makes cancer cells weak

One particular challenge in the treatment of cancer is therapy resistance. An international research team has now discovered a mechanism that opens up new treatment strategies for tumours in which conventional chemotherapeutic agents have reached their limits.

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New insights into how gut cells respond to bacterial toxins

Researchers have found that specific gut cells, BEST4/CA7+ cells, regulate electrolyte and water balance in response to bacterial toxins that cause diarrhea. Their findings show that these cells greatly increase in number when exposed to the cytokine interferon- (IFN ), presenting a promising target for therapeutic strategies.

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Hormones may have therapeutic potential to prevent wrinkles, hair graying

Hormones may be leveraged to treat and prevent signs of aging such as wrinkles and hair graying, according to a new study.

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New study reveals Neanderthals experienced population crash 110,000 years ago

A new study suggests that Neanderthals experienced a dramatic loss of genetic variation during the course of their evolution, foreshadowing their eventual extinction. Examination of semicircular canals of ear shows Neanderthals experienced 'bottleneck' event where physical and genetic variation was lost.

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Telemedicine may help reduce use of unnecessary health tests

A research team has found that telemedicine may help to reduce the use of low-value tests.

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Co-prescribed stimulants, opioids linked to higher opioid doses

The combination of prescribed central nervous system stimulants, such as drugs that relieve ADHD symptoms, with prescribed opioid medications is associated with a pattern of escalating opioid intake, a new study has found.

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Daily cannabis use linked to public health burden

A new study analyzes the disease burden and the risk factors for severity among people who suffer from a condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Researchers say the condition occurs in people who are long-term regular consumers of cannabis and causes nausea, uncontrollable vomiting and excruciating pain in a cyclical pattern that often leads to repeated trips to the hospital.

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Early study shows promise for retinal-surgery robot

A robotic device allows eye surgeons to perform high-precision procedures on the retina, the fragile lining on the back of the eye that is less than a millimeter thick.

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Child ADHD risk linked to mother's use of acetaminophen

Fetal acetaminophen exposure increases the likelihood that a child will develop attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study.

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Scientists identify a new cancer immunotherapy target: Dysfunctional B cells

Scientists have discovered a novel subset of cancer-fighting immune cells that reside outside of their normal neighborhood -- known as the tertiary lymphoid structure -- where they become frustratingly dysfunctional when in close contact with tumors.

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Study reveals activity of navtemadlin in glioblastoma, points to possible treatment improvements

Clinical research suggests that combining a novel agent called navtemadlin with DNA-damaging chemotherapy for the treatment of glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, could increase efficacy. Navtemadlin is an MDM2 inhibitor that can help to kill cancer cells by boosting the activity of p53, a protein that controls cell growth and induces cell death in response to DNA damage. In lab experiments, the researchers found that navtemadlin was one of the best drugs at killing glioblastoma cells with intact, non-mutant p53.

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U.S. facing critical hospital bed shortage by 2032

The new post-pandemic national hospital occupancy average is 75% -- a full 11 percentage points higher than the pre-pandemic average, largely due to a reduction in staffed hospital beds. This puts the U.S. on track for a severe shortage of hospital beds by 2032 unless action is taken.

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A patient's ability to perform a cardiac stress test offers a critical window on their mortality risk

A new study demonstrates life-saving benefits of consistent exercise.

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Ai in retail: How to spark creativity and improve job satisfaction

AI is reshaping workplaces, particularly in retail. Researchers explored how AI service quality impacts retail employees' innovation, job fit, and satisfaction. Findings show when employees perceive AI as reliable and empathetic, they are more likely to engage in innovative behavior. AI's adaptability also plays a crucial role in enhancing service quality. While reliability strongly supports innovation, transparency and responsiveness had less influence than expected. Empathy in AI systems was found to have a significant positive effect on employee innovation, creating a more engaging work environment. The study underscores AI's potential to drive service innovation in retail.

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New research shows neonatal HSV infections may lead to long-term cognitive impairment

Very early exposure to even a very small dose of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in infant mice can lead to cognitive decline later in life, according to new findings. This is significant because of emerging data in human studies showing an association between HSV and Alzheimer's disease in humans.

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Scientific insights into how humans access deep spiritual states

Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices -- Buddhist jhana meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues -- have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests. While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender.

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Biological clock plays critical role in driving teens' late-day eating habits

The causes of obesity are complex and influenced by many factors. While research has highlighted connections between sleep, eating patterns and weight gain, scientists remain uncertain of the role of the circadian system -- the biological clock -- in shaping eating patterns. But a new study reveals a distinct relationship between circadian rhythms, weight and eating habits in adolescents, a vulnerable age group whose eating patterns influence their lifelong health. The study found that adolescents whose weight was classified as 'overweight' or 'obese' consumed more calories later in the day compared to participants with healthy weights.

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A diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease medication is the first of its kind to significantly reduce both heart attacks and strokes

New research shows sotagliflozin is the only drug in its class to demonstrate these results.

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Reduced prediabetes in people who ate broccoli compound

The chemical compound sulforaphane found in broccoli sprouts can be linked to improved blood sugar levels in prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. The broccoli compound had a more significant effect on blood sugar levels in certain people.

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Researchers create digital microbe collection to transform health research

Researchers have created the largest collection of digital microbes -- nearly a quarter million computer models -- to help revolutionize our understanding of the human microbiome and its impact on health.

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Research achieves gene-editing breakthrough that could improve treatment for liver disease, other disorders

Researchers developed a new gene-editing strategy that dramatically boosts the effectiveness of gene therapies in the liver, a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for about 700 genetic disorders in this vital organ as well as in other organs and tissues.

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Scientists find new biomarker that predicts cancer aggressiveness

Using a new technology and computational method, researchers have uncovered a biomarker capable of accurately predicting outcomes in meningioma brain tumors and breast cancers.

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Protein shuttling mechanism helps bacteria pump out antibiotics

Scientists have uncovered the equipment that enables bacteria to survive exposure to antibiotics: a shuttling mechanism that helps a complex of proteins pump out a wide spectrum of antibiotics along with other physiological substrates from the cell.

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Wealth gap fuels health inequality for over 50s: new study reveals lifestyle divide and depression link

There is a 'silent emergency' brewing under our noses as research finds that there is a clear wealth gap among adults over 50 who meet physical activity and dietary guidelines. The research also found that poorer adults are nearly three times more likely to be depressed than their wealthier counterparts.

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Mpox: Better understanding of tecovirimat resistance

A virus originally found in animals, mpox -- which causes the disease of the same name -- is now circulating in humans. Since 2022, it has been the cause of major epidemics spreading outside endemic areas in Central and West Africa. Two hundred and fifteen cases of mpox infection were reported to Sant publique France in 2024. Tecovirimat is the drug most commonly used to treat patients infected with the mpox virus. Unfortunately, it is sometimes ineffective against certain variants of the virus that have mutations in an enzyme. Scientists have been studying this resistance, and have been able to describe more precisely how this enzyme interacts with tecovirimat. This research will make it possible to develop novel antiviral therapeutic approaches.

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Ovarian cancer discovery could turn failed treatment into lifesaver

Gut bacteria are to blame for the failure of immune checkpoint therapy for ovarian cancer, new research reveals.

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What causes reproductive complications?

Our cells constantly receive DNA damage from factors such as ultraviolet rays, irradiations, toxins and chemicals. For women, that can lead to poor egg quality, which in turn can cause infertility, miscarriage, birth defects or genetic disorders. Researchers are now working to better understand a process that can help repair that damage.

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Mapmaking in the mind: How the brain builds mental maps of the world

Researchers have systematically detailed, step by step, how cognitive maps form in the brain's hippocampus -- a region responsible for learning and memory.

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Meet the newly discovered brain cell that allows you to remember objects

Researchers have discovered a new type of neuron that plays a fundamental role in recognition memory -- how the brain registers the difference between new and familiar objects and forms long-term memories. The new cell type, called ovoid cells, are found in the hippocampus of mice, humans and other mammals. Discovering the neuron provides key insights into how memories form and into treatment of brain conditions related to object-recognition like Alzheimer's disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder and epilepsy.

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How cancer cells trick the immune system by altering mitochondria

Immunotherapy, which uses programmed immune cells to selectively destroy cancer cells, has transformed cancer treatment. However, cancer cells have developed immune evasion strategies, leading to poor treatment responses. Now, researchers have identified the transfer of mitochondria with mutated DNA from cancer cells to immune cells as a key mechanism of immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy. Targeting this transfer could enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.

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Reasons for misdiagnosis of frontotemporal dementia

Researchers discovered that nearly 70 per cent of suspected frontotemporal dementia patients ultimately did not have the disease in a study aimed at identifying factors that contribute to misdiagnosis of this notoriously difficult to diagnose disorder.

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New study offers hope to patients with advanced liver cancer, cirrhosis

Researchers describe successful tumor removal through the use of immunotherapy and targeted radiation therapy (TARE), in a patient previously considered ineligible for the procedure.

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Drug may counteract muscle loss and osteoporosis after rapid weight loss

Rapid weight loss affects muscle mass and can increase the risk of osteoporosis. But now there is good news for people taking weight loss medication who may be at risk. A new study indicates that the drug bimagrumab can counteract the side effects.

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Eating gradually increasing doses of peanut butter enables children with high-threshold allergy to safely consume peanuts, study suggests

Findings suggest a safe, inexpensive, and effective pathway for allergists to treat children who already tolerate at least half a peanut.

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Brain waves measure the effect of anti-alcohol campaigns

To evaluate the effectiveness of public video campaigns against risky alcohol consumption, psychologists used EEG measurements to examine the synchronization of brain activity in groups of viewers. In a recent study, they present new ways to bring the method out of the laboratory and into real-life application in the public health sector.

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Is CBD use during pregnancy as safe as people think? New study uncovers potential risks to babies

A new study has uncovered potential risks, including impaired fetal growth, associated with the use of both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, as well as CBD, during pregnancy.

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Scientists discover new weapon to fight treatment-resistant melanoma

Scientists identified a new strategy for attacking treatment-resistant melanoma: inhibiting the gene S6K2.

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Researchers discover the brain cells that tell you to stop eating

Newly discovered brain cells count each bite before sending the order to cease eating a meal.

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Cancer vaccine shows promise for patients with stage III and IV kidney cancer

Researchers report that all nine patients in a clinical trial being treated for stage III or IV clear cell renal cell carcinoma (a form of kidney cancer), generated a successful anti-cancer immune response after initiation of a personalized cancer vaccine.

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Breakthrough in childhood brain cancer research could heal treatment-resistant tumors, keep them in remission

Research has shown that a potential new targeted therapy for childhood brain cancer is effective in infiltrating and killing tumor cells in preclinical models tested in mice. The novel drug CT-179 was shown to target a specific subset of tumor cells responsible for recurrence and therapy resistance in pediatric brain cancer. The findings could lead to more effective, less toxic treatments, improving survival and quality of life for young patients.

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How the brain enables flexible decisions

Our brain is remarkably flexible in producing different reactions to supposedly comparable situations. The same sensory information can lead to different decisions depending on the behavioral context. One example of this is a penalty kick in soccer: a player can either choose the empty corner of the goal as the target or aim directly at the goalkeeper in the hope that he will jump aside. Both decisions are based on the same perception of the goalkeeper's position, but lead to completely different actions. Neuroscientists have investigated how the brain implements this type of flexibility. Their results show that, depending on the requirements, our brain either reuses known neural pathways or develops new patterns to select movements depending on the context.

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A protein at the heart of heart disease

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) -- commonly known as bad cholesterol -- have long been on scientists' radar as a major contributor to heart disease. But these microscopic troublemakers have hidden their inner workings behind a maze of complexity. That is, until now. Researchers have now revealed the specific shape and structure of one of the body's most important yet complicated proteins: ApoB100. Acting as a kind of molecular exoskeleton, this protein wraps around LDL particles, allowing them to travel through the bloodstream, researchers found.

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Vitamin D matters during first trimester

Maternal vitamin D levels in the first trimester were related to both prenatal growth and pregnancy outcomes, according to a new study. Low vitamin D levels during the first trimester of pregnancy were associated with higher rates of preterm birth and decreased fetal length.

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Alarming rise in rates of advanced prostate cancer in California

The incidence of advanced prostate cancer in California rose markedly in the decade since doctors stopped routinely screening all men for the disease, according to a new study.

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Study establishes link between early side effects from prostate cancer radiation and long-term side effects

Men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer who experience side effects early in treatment may face a higher risk of developing more serious long-term urinary and bowel health issues, according to a new study.

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Healthy gut bacteria that feed on sugar analyzed

A microbe found in the lower part of the gut that is associated with good health has been comprehensively analyzed and found to have a focused diet breaking down sugars locked away in mucus, according to a new study.

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