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Boosting a lipid fuel makes mice less sensitive to the cold

Researchers at University of Utah Health found that boosting levels of acylcarnitines, a new lipid source for brown fat, restores youthful ability to adapt to cold in older mice. This discovery could lead to a therapy for cold sensitivity and potentially aid in obesity prevention.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalCell Metabolism·DateSep 5, 2017

Molecular pilot light prepares body's heating system for the cold

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered a molecular player that acts as a pilot light to turn on brown fat, which burns sugar and fat to produce radiant heat. Mice lacking this molecule, histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), are unable to activate brown fat, highlighting its crucial role in metabolism.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature·DateJun 14, 2017

Sympathetic nervous system is critical in regulating energy expenditure and thermogenesis

A new study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai suggests that the sympathetic nervous system, not macrophages, is the main driver of thermogenesis. The research team found that catecholamines released by the sympathetic nervous system can convert white fat tissue into a tissue resembling brown fat.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·DateApr 17, 2017

Do BAT receptors hold the key to treating obesity and diabetes?

Researchers found that TRPM8 and TRPP3 receptors can create more 'good' fat (brown adipose tissue) than 'bad' fat (white adipose tissue), potentially converting bad fat to good. This discovery has implications for treating obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateApr 17, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Protein hampers the positive power of brown and beige fat

High levels of protein Id1 suppresses brown fat's burning ability by binding to key regulators, leading to increased risk of diabetes and obesity. Conversely, lack of Id1 promotes conversion of white fat to healthier beige fat.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalDiabetes·DateApr 10, 2017

Giving brown fat a green light

Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center identified a lipid molecule that signals brown fat cells to activate in mice, improving metabolism. The molecule, 12,13-diHOME, may also be used as a biomarker for brown fat activation in humans.

SourceJoslin Diabetes Center·JournalNature Medicine·DateMar 29, 2017

Humans have three times more brown body fat

Researchers at Technical University of Munich found a significant proportion of human bodies contain brown fat, which burns energy at an extraordinary rate. This discovery may lead to more effective obesity and diabetes medications that target brown adipose tissue.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateMar 1, 2017
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

When fat cells change their color

Researchers found that epigenetic enzyme Lsd1 maintains brown fat tissue's metabolic properties. Inhibiting Lsd1 leads to whitening of brown adipose tissue, storing energy instead of expending it.

SourceBIOSS - Centre for Biological Signalling Studies·JournalCell Reports·DateOct 28, 2016

Mulberry extract activates brown fat, shows promise as obesity treatment

Researchers found that rutin extracted from mulberries activates brown adipose tissue to mimic cold-induced thermogenesis, enhancing energy metabolism and weight loss. This natural compound was tested on genetically obese mice and diet-induced obesity models, reducing adiposity and improving glucose homeostasis.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateOct 26, 2016

Scientists work to turn up the heat of brown fat to combat obesity

Researchers are working to enhance the heat-burning ability of brown fat to combat obesity. They discovered a gene, BSCL2, that regulates brown, white, and beige fat. Deleting this gene in mature brown fat surprisingly increased its efficiency at burning fat, while mice on high-fat diets still lost weight.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·DateSep 7, 2016

Calorie-burning 'good' fat can be protected, says study

Researchers have discovered a new strategy to cultivate beneficial beige fat, which can help ward off obesity and diabetes. By preventing beige fat cells from digesting their own mitochondria, the intervention successfully protected against obesity and pre-diabetic symptoms in mice, raising hopes for future applications in human patients.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalCell Metabolism·DateAug 25, 2016
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Converting cells to burn fat, not store it

Researchers at McGill University have found a way to reprogram white fat cells into energy-burning beige or brown fat cells. This 'browning' process can help manage obesity and other metabolic disorders by burning excess energy instead of storing it.

SourceMcGill University·JournalGenes & Development·DateMay 16, 2016

How does the environment affect obesity?

A McMaster University research team is examining how environmental factors, such as agricultural practices and toxicants, affect brown adipose tissue activity in individuals with obesity or type-2 diabetes. The studies aim to develop new strategies to enhance BAT activity for treating and preventing these diseases.

SourceMcMaster University·DateMay 2, 2016

Got good fat?

University of Bonn researchers have discovered a new method to measure the activity of energy-consuming brown fat cells in humans and mice. They found that microRNA-92a can be used as an indirect measure of brown fat cell activity, with a small blood sample sufficient for analysis.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 27, 2016
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Brown fat may warm us up at dawn

Researchers discovered that human brown fat cells show circadian fluctuations in glucose consumption, which may act as a glucose buffer and lessen the stress on the pancreas. Individuals with high brown fat abundance showed less variability in glucose levels over time.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateMar 10, 2016
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Brown fat keeps blood sugar in check

Researchers found that individuals with more brown fat had smaller fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Brown fat may act as a 'glucose buffer', lessening the variation in blood glucose and potentially diminishing metabolic stresses that could increase the risk of diabetes.

SourceGarvan Institute of Medical Research·JournalCell Metabolism·DateMar 10, 2016

Researchers at the University of Bonn boost fat-burning

A team of scientists at the University of Bonn discovered a switch that can convert unwanted white fat cells into energy-burning brown cells by blocking Gq proteins. This breakthrough has significant implications for obesity treatment, as it may lead to the development of pharmaceutical products that target this pathway.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 9, 2016

Activating brown fat tissue

Researchers from the University of Cologne have successfully inhibited a protein that hampers activation of brown fat in mice, leading to improved glucose metabolism. By feeding Bace1 inhibitors to these animals, scientists were able to activate their brown fat and alleviate metabolic problems.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateMar 2, 2016
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

NIH awards Georgia State biologist $1.37 million to fight obesity

A Georgia State University biologist has received a four-year, $1.37 million grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to study epigenetic mechanisms and their link to obesity. The researcher aims to induce brown adipocytes in white fat tissues to prevent and treat obesity.

SourceGeorgia State University·DateFeb 29, 2016

Pathway to better metabolism discovered in fat cells

A recent study by Hiroshima University has identified a key protein responsible for burning excess energy in the body, UCP1, found in brown fat cells. Increasing UCP1 levels can lead to a higher metabolism and less weight gain.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 25, 2016

Stress could help activate brown fat

Researchers found that mild stress increases brown fat activity, linked to higher cortisol levels and potential heat production. This discovery has implications for preventing obesity and diabetes through sustainable interventions.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalExperimental Physiology·DateFeb 8, 2016

Slender mice, heart disease and diabetes -- what do they have in common?

A study by Finnish researchers found that removing a gene from mice protected them against arterial disease and obesity, due to increased activity of brown adipose tissue. The discovery suggests that inhibiting the USF1 gene might be a good strategy for treating cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 27, 2016

Molecular switch generates calorie-burning brown fat

Researchers discover a protein called Casein Kinase 2 that prevents white fat from burning energy in cold conditions. Inhibiting this molecule boosts metabolism and reduces weight gain in mice fed high-fat diets.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalCell Metabolism·DateOct 29, 2015
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Engineered hot fat implants reduce weight gain in mice

Researchers at UC Berkeley created an implant containing stem cells that form functional brown-fat-like tissue, reducing weight gain and lowering blood glucose levels in mice. The study's results suggest the technique could lead to new therapeutic approaches for metabolic disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalDiabetes·DateAug 20, 2015

Human cell models accelerate research into brown fat

Researchers created human cell lines to study gene expression in precursor cells, enabling the prediction of UCP1 expression and potential transformation of white fat cells into brown fat cells. This breakthrough offers a promising tool for developing personalized obesity treatments.

SourceJoslin Diabetes Center·JournalNature·DateJun 16, 2015

Fat finding

Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School have discovered a long non-coding RNA that regulates brown fat development in mice. This finding holds promise for developing new therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat obesity.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalCell Metabolism·DateApr 23, 2015
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Researchers identify 'beige' fat-burning cells in humans

A research team has isolated energy-burning beige fat from adult humans, which can convert unhealthy white fat into healthy brown fat. This discovery holds promise for developing new medications to fight obesity by recruiting and activating human brown fat.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalNature Medicine·DateMar 31, 2015

To trigger energy-burning brown fat, just chill

Researchers found that exposure to cold temperatures increases levels of the protein Zfp516, which activates UCP1 in brown fat. Mice with boosted Zfp516 protein gained 30% less weight on a high-fat diet, suggesting a potential target for obesity and diabetes treatment.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalMolecular Cell·DateJan 8, 2015

Drug stimulates brown fat and boosts metabolism

A FDA-approved drug may help combat obesity by stimulating brown fat's metabolic activity, increasing resting metabolic rate, and promoting weight loss in rodents. Researchers discovered that mirabegron activates the beta-3 adrenergic receptor, a promising target for obesity treatment.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJan 6, 2015
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

'Good fat' could help manage type 2 diabetes

Researchers have discovered that brown fat, which burns calories and absorbs excess sugar, could be used to control blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The study found that activating brown fat cells could lead to a new way of managing the disease without daily insulin injections.

SourceMonash University·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateNov 23, 2014

How brown fat fuels up to combat type 2 diabetes and obesity

A newly discovered signaling pathway in brown fat cells stimulates glucose uptake, potentially treating type 2 diabetes. The mTORC2 pathway, involving protein kinase mTOR, enhances GLUT1 transport to the surface of brown fat cells.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateNov 10, 2014
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Adenosine can melt 'love handles'

Scientists at the University of Bonn have discovered a new signaling pathway that utilizes adenosine to stimulate brown fat cells. This 'browning' process may help convert white fat cells into energy-burning brown cells, potentially aiding in weight loss and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature·DateOct 16, 2014

Hunger games: How the brain 'browns' fat to aid weight loss

A Yale study reveals the brain's control over transforming white fat into brown fat, which burns energy and aids in weight loss. The researchers found that neurons controlling hunger and appetite regulate this process, suggesting a novel approach to combating obesity.

SourceYale University·JournalCell·DateOct 9, 2014
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Scripps Research Institute scientists find new calorie-burning switch in brown fat

Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute have identified a signaling pathway that activates the powerful calorie-burning process in brown fat cells. The study found that a protein called GADD45γ works alongside PGC-1α to boost thermogenesis, offering new possibilities for treating obesity and diabetes.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 31, 2014

Hope for the overweight

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich have developed a new approach to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, targeting the brown adipose tissue. By identifying specific surface proteins, they aim to selectively deliver substances to this tissue to reduce excess weight without side effects.

SourceHelmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH))·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJul 31, 2014
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

New clue helps explain how brown fat burns energy

A new study by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center identifies IRF4 as a key regulator of brown fat's thermogenic process, driving energy expenditure and cold tolerance. The findings provide a crucial clue to understanding how brown fat burns energy and may lead to the development of novel therapies for obesity and diabetes.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalCell·DateJul 3, 2014
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Immune system molecules may promote weight loss, UCSF study finds

A new study by UC San Francisco researchers found that two signaling molecules secreted by immune cells trigger the conversion of white fat cells to beige fat cells, leading to weight loss. The discovery provides a potential new strategy for weight loss focused on the immune system rather than the brain.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalCell·DateJun 5, 2014

Key milestone for brown fat research with a ground-breaking MRI scan

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery using MRI scans to identify brown adipose tissue in adults, a major step towards developing new weight loss treatments. The study's findings could lead to the creation of safe and effective therapies that activate brown fat to promote energy expenditure.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateApr 17, 2014
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Shivering could elicit some of the same benefits as exercise

Research found that shivering releases irisin, a hormone that stimulates calorie-burning brown fat and improves metabolism. This mechanism is similar to exercise-stimulated secretion of irisin, suggesting potential benefits for treating or preventing obesity.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateFeb 4, 2014

Evidence that shivering and exercise may convert white fat to brown

A new study suggests that shivering and bouts of moderate exercise can convert energy-storing 'white fat' into energy-burning 'brown fat'. This process could protect against diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver. The conversion is triggered by the hormones irisin and FGF21, which are stimulated by cold exposure and muscle activity.

SourceGarvan Institute of Medical Research·JournalCell Metabolism·DateFeb 4, 2014

Reducing liver protein SIRT1 levels

A study led by Boston University School of Medicine found that a lack of liver protein SIRT1 is associated with lower levels of FGF21, leading to fatty liver disease and obesity. Elevated FGF21 levels, however, transformed white fat cells into brown fat cells, producing heat and burning calories.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateJan 21, 2014
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.