Category: Education
“Immune system-on-a-chip” helps predict vaccine response
Scientists at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering (Wyss), Harvard University, have successfully modelled the human immune system on microfluidic chips. Most medical innovations such as vaccines sometimes fall short of expectations in live human experiments – instead of […]
Cancer drug delivery made possible by “masked” bacteria
Researchers have developed a cloaking system that temporarily hides therapeutic bacteria from immune detection, in cancer-ridden mouse models. Professors of engineering at Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science (Columbia Engineering), programmed gene circuits to build a protective molecular […]
Depression in new mothers triple pre-pandemic levels
New research into pregnancy and postpartum depression highlights how new mothers experienced more depressive episodes during the early days of COVID-19 (COVID). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had earlier estimated that 1 in 8 mothers experienced postpartum […]
Research success into a new way to train one’s creativity
Method training based on the “narrative theory” helps people be more creative in the way children, artists, and writers are by way of imagination and perspective-shifting. It uses many types of storytelling techniques: for example, employees at a company might […]
New type of air filters can kill disease-causing pathogens
Air filters containing a potent biocide has been developed thanks to a joint research project between the University of Birmingham, UK, and private manufacturing firms. The new air filters are coated in a chemical called chlorhexidine digluconate (CHDG) which has […]
“Sniffer” ants can detect cancer and potentially other diseases
A certain species of ant has been found to be able to differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous cells, much like trained detection dogs. Scientists from the CNRS, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, France, discovered the Formica fusca species of ant was […]
New, at-home video game approach for stroke rehabilitation
Virtual therapy led to improved outcomes similar to traditional rehabilitation therapy for stroke patients, claim researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). The researchers have designed a video game using a motion sensor – called Recovery Rapids – that is […]
Alcohol consumption shown to reduce brain size, similar to sped-up aging
The effects of alcohol consumption have been controversial: studies over the years suggest alcohol consumption reduces inflammation and is able to flush toxins from the brain but also stunts brain growth and causes early-onset dementia. A new meta-analysis of more […]
Obesity harms female reproductive health
Research from the University of Oxford, UK, suggests obesity heightens the risk of developing female reproductive conditions/disorders such as heavy menstrual bleeding, uterine fibroids (UF), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pre-eclampsia, and infertility. However, the aetiological link between obesity in the […]
New ultrasound scan an effective alternative to prostate cancer MRI
An ultrasound tool developed by scientists at Imperial College London detects incidences of prostate cancer with accuracy equal to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The multiparametric ultrasound (mpUSS) test uses a probe inserted into the rectum to image the prostate […]
