Author: healthadmin
The mass extinction at the end of the Triassic period occurred about 201 million years ago and was associated with large-scale volcanic eruptions that accompanied the breakup of Pangea. These eruptions released large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, raising global temperatures by an estimated 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. As the Earth heated, forests dominated by trees collapsed. The ferns quickly migrated into the affected landscape and spread across much of what is now northwestern Europe, creating vast savannah-like environments. A new study by an international team led by geologists from Utrecht University suggests that these fern-covered areas…
Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and the Severo Ochoa University Hospital in Leganes, part of the Madrid City Public Health Network, have developed a methodology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the electrical activity of the brain during sleep, facilitating early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The study, recently published in the scientific journal GeroScience, demonstrated that by analyzing nighttime brain waves using machine learning techniques, early neurological changes can be non-invasively identified and patients can be classified into three distinct biological subgroups. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease whose clinical symptoms usually appear 10–20 years…
A study investigating the effects of torso compression (achieved by wearing shapewear) showed (in an experimental game) that it reduced risky decisions. At the same time, participants who underwent torso compression became more sensitive to sensations coming from their stomach and more aware of signals coming from their heart. The paper is biological psychology. Good decisions depend not only on what is happening around us, but also on how accurately we are aware of what is happening within our bodies. The ability to detect and interpret internal signals such as heartbeat, hunger, fullness, nausea, and fatigue is known as interoception.…
Explore evidence-based strategies to overcome systemic barriers in mental health infrastructure, improve psychiatric care delivery, and align policy with clinical needs.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are valued by manufacturers for their ability to repel oil and water and are used in everything from nonstick cookware to batteries and clothing. But they rarely make the news now that the extent of pollution around the world is known. Due to their extraordinary persistence in the environment, they are now found in the deepest parts of the ocean and high up in the Arctic, and have been linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer and fertility problems. A recent study found that even if the EU spent €100bn (£85bn) a year,…
Want to stay up to date on the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to receive our biotech newsletter in your inbox. good morning. I’ll admit I didn’t finish rereading The Odyssey before seeing the movie last weekend, but it’s never too late. For now, scroll down to read related First Opinion essays and sign up for office hours with Bob Herman, STAT’s own Homeric chronicler of the business of medicine. AHRQ-supported researchers have their funding cut off Last week, dozens of researchers supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality received letters confirming what they had…
Antibiotic resistance is becoming one of the most serious dangers facing modern medicine. As bacteria evolve, drugs that were once reliably effective may no longer be effective. This can make common infections more difficult to treat and increase the risks associated with routine surgeries, cancer treatments, and other medical procedures. Researchers around the world are looking for ways to stay ahead of these rapidly changing microorganisms. One promising strategy is to make existing drugs work again, rather than inventing entirely new antibiotics. This is the idea behind antibiotic adjuvants, companion molecules that restore the power of antibiotics rather than directly…
Going to religious services every week will not prevent common mental illnesses or improve your overall psychological health. A recent analysis of long-term data suggests that the previously reported health benefits of gathering for worship may be the result of a combination of life circumstances rather than a true medical benefit. The findings show that the act of attending religious services alone does not provide direct protection against mental illness. The study was published in The Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. For decades, a vast body of literature has suggested a strong association between religious attendance and positive mental health…
Lidar technology uses pulses of infrared light to calculate distance and create a detailed 3D map of the surrounding environment. This allows self-driving cars to detect objects in their path and respond quickly. However, traditional LIDAR sensors are often large and expensive, and many rely on moving components that wear out over time. These limitations make the system difficult to use in a wide range of settings. MIT researchers have now developed an approach that could lead to smaller, more durable LIDAR sensors that operate without moving parts. Their advances focus on new silicon photonics chips, a type of semiconductor…
Recent research published in intelligence and cognitive ability It suggests that certain mental skills, such as technical knowledge, mathematics, and language skills, play an important role in predicting a person’s future income, educational attainment, and career path. This study provides evidence that these specific cognitive abilities are at least one-third more important than general intelligence in shaping a person’s social and economic position. This means education and career guidance programs can benefit from going beyond their overall intelligence scores to help people find paths that suit their unique strengths. Tobias Edwards, a postdoctoral fellow in behavioral genetics and individual differences…