Human brain samples collected at autopsy in early 2024 contained more tiny shards of plastic than samples collected eight years prior, according to a preprint posted online in May. A preprint is a study which has not yet been peer-reviewed and published in a journal. “The concentrations we saw in the brain tissue of normal individuals, who had [...]
According to the research, these mitochondrial DNA insertions could be linked to early death. Mitochondria in brain cells frequently insert their DNA into the nucleus, potentially impacting lifespan, as those with more insertions were found to die earlier. Stress appears to accelerate this process, suggesting a new way mitochondria influence health beyond energy production. As direct [...]
Research indicates hospitals contribute to the local spread of antibiotic-resistant infections. A recent study published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America suggests that family members of patients discharged from hospitals may be at an increased risk of contracting antibiotic-resistant infections, commonly referred to as superbugs. This [...]
Researchers have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 manipulates the human immune system by forcing cells to produce non-functional proteins, hindering the body’s antiviral defenses. This groundbreaking study by teams from prestigious Brazilian universities highlights potential targets for new COVID-19 treatments, emphasizing the importance of restoring normal RNA processing in infected cells. SARS-CoV-2’s Immune Evasion Strategies To evade the human host’s immune response, [...]
Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently at the forefront of everyone’s minds, with its exciting potential to revolutionize every industry and alter traditional workflow. The growing impact of AI on many industries also includes the pharmaceutical sector, which may have major implications on the drug discovery process, making this otherwise lengthy process faster, more [...]
New research explores the adaptation strategies of polyploid plants, offering insights for cancer treatment and enhancing crop resilience against environmental challenges. Whole genome duplication (WGD) occurs across all kingdoms of life. While it is most prevalent in plants, it also takes place in certain highly aggressive cancers. Following WGD, a cell acquires additional sets [...]
A team at the University of Missouri has devised a method to eliminate most nanoplastics from water using eco-friendly solvents, suitable for both fresh and saltwater applications. Nanoplasticst are an emerging enemy of human health. Much smaller in size than the diameter of an average human hair, nanoplastics are invisible to the naked eye. [...]
A team led by Jose Onuchic at Rice University and Paul Whitford at Northeastern University, both researchers at the National Science Foundation Physics Frontiers Center at the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics (CTBP) at Rice, has made a discovery in the fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for COVID-19. [...]
Cornell University research demonstrates that sleep resets the hippocampus, enabling continuous learning and offering new strategies for treating memory-related disorders. While everyone knows that a good night’s sleep restores energy, a new Cornell University study finds it resets another vital function: memory. Learning or experiencing new things activates neurons in the hippocampus, a region of the [...]
Steps are being taken toward human clinical trials for the precision measurement of the intestinal microbiome. Researchers at Tufts University School of Engineering have made remarkable strides in developing a small, pill-sized device that can be swallowed to traverse the gastrointestinal tract, providing a comprehensive sampling of the microorganisms present within it. This device has the [...]
