A new study from MIT warns that climate change and air pollution can combine to reduce crop yields, with effects varying by region. The study found that ozone pollution can cause significant damage to crops, particularly in the US where stricter regulations may mitigate its impact.
A new library of tools called Thunder enables neuroscientists to quickly analyze large amounts of brain activity data, generating unprecedented insights into how the brain works.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a protective layer of interconnected carbon nanospheres to protect the unstable lithium from drawbacks, enabling the design of a pure lithium anode. The breakthrough could lead to more efficient and longer-lasting rechargeable batteries with improved capacity and reduced safety risks.
A systematic analysis of hepatitis E virus transmission by blood components found that about 1 in 3000 donors in England have the virus. Around 1200 HEV-containing blood components are likely to be transfused every year in England.
A Canadian hospital reduced cardiac surgical site infections (SSIs) by 77% through a comprehensive safety program. The hospital implemented best practices in prophylactic antibiotic use, wound care, and patient warming to lower the SSI rate from 7% to 1.6%.
Scientists at Barts Cancer Institute have identified a molecule called focal adhesion kinase (FAK) that signals the body to repair itself after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Removing FAK from blood vessels in melanoma and lung cancer models made treatments more effective, suggesting that targeting this molecule could boost cancer therapy.
An international research team has shown that the soft X-ray glow blanketing the sky originates from both inside and outside the solar system. The bulk of the radiation comes from a local hot bubble of gas in our galactic neighborhood, while the solar wind contributes up to 40 percent.
Researchers found that some microorganisms can use epimutations, a temporary silencing of drug targets, to gain drug resistance without committing to permanent mutations. This flexible mechanism could be employed by various organisms to withstand treatment with different drugs.
A new kidney transplant drug has been shown to halve the early risk of rejection, allowing a less toxic regimen of anti-rejection drugs to be used. The study, published in The Lancet, found that alemtuzumab-based induction therapy reduced acute rejection by 69% compared to basiliximab-based induction therapy.
A new study reveals a significant link between childhood obesity and an earlier age of puberty, with heavier children at age five tending to have lower SHBG levels and reach puberty sooner. The findings suggest that obesity in childhood may contribute to the decline in the age of puberty over the past century.
A website providing information on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most cost-effective way to increase its uptake, with a potential saving of £9.20 per vaccination for the NHS. This method is also more convenient for parents seeking additional information about the vaccine.
Scientists from The University of Manchester discovered that drugs used to treat asthma and pneumonia become ineffective due to the body's natural circadian rhythm. The study found that cells lining the lung airways have their own internal clock, which regulates inflammation in the lungs.
Researchers analyzed data from over 18,000 patients to find more than two dozen genetic risk factors involved in Parkinson's disease, including six previously unknown. The study confirms that the more variants a person has, the greater their risk of developing the disorder.
Two new pill-only antiviral drug regimens have shown promise in treating the most difficult-to-cure form of hepatitis C, with high cure rates and minimal side effects. The treatments offer a more effective, safer, and shorter option for patients with cirrhosis or those who have failed existing therapies.