Scientists Find Fault with Chemical in Antibacterial Products
Scientists in Colorado and California say in a study recently published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that they have found that a chemical used in some antibacterial soaps and similar products can obstruct muscle contractions. They say that at a cellular level, the chemical can slow a fish’s swimming abilities […]
Bioengineered Jellyfish Could Help Heal Human Hearts
By combining rat cardiac muscle cells with silicone, scientists have bioengineered a free-swimming jellyfish which could eventually lead to improved treatment for heart disease. Researchers from Harvard and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) say their creation shows it’s possible to reverse-engineer a variety of muscular organs and simple life forms, allowing for a broader definition […]
Glove Improves Sensation, Motor Skills for People with Spinal Cord Injuries
Researchers in Georgia have developed a glove which seems to improve touch sensation and motor skills for people with severe spinal cord injuries. The Mobile Music Touch (MMT) looks like a regular workout glove, except for the small box mounted on the back. Along with a piano keyboard, the glove is used to help people […]
Fatter Population Threatens World Food Supply
Turns out obesity isn’t just a health issue; all of that overeating could seriously cut into the future world food supply. According to a new study from Great Britain, if the current worldwide obesity epidemic continues unabated, maintaining enough food to feed the world could actually become a much more serious challenge. Right now, the […]
New Web-based Program Helps Doctors Save Lives
Heart failure is one of the most common causes of hospitalization and is among the most expensive chronic diseases to treat. When a patient comes in to the emergency room complaining about having difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, fatigue, or chest tightness, the health care professionals must decide then and there if the patient is […]
Needle-free Blood Test Is on the Way
A new device uses light instead of needles to test blood. Researchers in Israel are developing the pain-free test, which is expected to reveal similar information as traditional blood tests, providing the doctor with immediate results. Besides providing the patient with a relatively stress-free experience, the optical unit, which is no bigger than a breadbox, […]
Your Body Odor Can Reveal Your Age
People can tell how old you are by how you smell, according to new research published in the journal PLoS One. It appears that “old person smell” some people complain about is for real, that elderly people emit a unique identifying odor. An elderly individual’s “old person smell” is actually acknowledged and accepted in cultures […]
Manmade Retina Could Restore Vision to Millions
A new prosthetic retina could restore eyesight to millions of people suffering from a common cause of blindness – age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Usually affecting people over 50, AMD causes a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula, or macula lutea) due to damage to the retina. This condition can […]
Exercise Offsets Muscle Breakdown in Heart Patients
We all know physical activity is good for us, and now new research suggests regular exercise can also help the aging and those suffering from heart failure. In fact, researchers say, maintaining a regular physical workout can offset the breakdown of muscle, increase strength, reduce inflammation and condition the body to handle even more exercise. […]
Woman Controls Robotic Arm With Her Mind
Almost 15 years after being paralyzed by a stroke, a 58-year-old woman was able to reach for, pick up and take a sip of a drink, by using her thoughts to operate a robotic arm. Up until then, the woman had depended upon caregivers to do this for her. As technology continues to meld man […]