Author: healthadmin

An experimental study of individuals suffering from persistent depressive disorder found that treatment with the antidepressants duloxetine and desvenlafaxine normalized tissue microstructure in parts of the brain. Symptom severity mediated treatment effects on tissue microstructure, suggesting that abnormal tissue at the beginning of the study may be a compensatory response of the brain to symptoms of depression. The paper is NeuroImage: Clinical. Persistent depressive disorder, formerly known as dysthymia, is a chronic condition in adults in which low mood and related symptoms persist for at least two years. Symptoms include low energy, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, trouble…

Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a new way to control ink drying by adding ultrafine bubbles to ink droplets instead of chemical additives. The researchers found that by simply changing the number of air bubbles within each droplet, they could dramatically change the pattern that remains when the liquid evaporates. This approach may be particularly valuable for manufacturing small electronic devices where residual additives can interfere with the performance of printed materials. Inkjet printing is no longer just used for documents and images. This has become an essential manufacturing technique for advanced technologies such as microelectronics and MEMS…

Physicists from Finland’s Jyväskylä University and Aalto University have successfully created a two-dimensional topological crystalline insulator, marking the first experimental realization of a quantum material that scientists have predicted for more than a decade. Until now, attempts to manufacture them have been hampered by difficulties in developing suitable materials. This breakthrough was led by Associate Professor Kezilbiek Shawulienu in collaboration with Aalto University researchers including Professor Peter Liljeroth and Professor Jose Lado. The researchers created the material by growing atomically thin films of just two layers of tin telluride (SnTe) on a niobium diselenide (NbSe2) substrate. Atomicly thin crystal reveals…

A rare goose fossil discovered at the remains of an ancient lake in Central Otago is changing scientists’ understanding of how New Zealand’s unique bird species evolved. Researchers from the University of Otago’s Otakou Whakaifu Waka say the discovery adds to growing evidence that the origin of Aotearoa’s birds was far more dynamic than previously thought. Associate Professor Nick Lawrence, director of the Otago Institute of Paleogenetics, is a co-author of a new study investigating the relationship between fossils and their evolution. This study historical biologycarried out by an international team from the University of Otago, Te Papa Tongarewa Museum,…

When SpaceX’s Starship launched from the Texas coast in the summer of 2023, it marked a milestone that aerospace engineers have been talking about for decades, but few expected to witness so soon. The towering stainless steel rocket, taller than a 30-story building, ignited all 33 engines and rose into the sky. Although the mission did not unfold perfectly, it proved that the concept could be realized. Its importance became even clearer during Starship’s fifth integrated flight test, when a returning super heavy booster was successfully captured in midair by the launch tower’s giant mechanical arm. This demonstration signaled the…

The human body is often described as a marvel of “perfect design”: elegant, efficient, and finely tuned for purpose. But a closer look reveals a very different picture. Far from being perfect machines, their bodies appear to be a patchwork of compromises formed over millions of years of evolution. Evolution does not design structures from scratch. Rather, it changes something that already exists. As a result, many aspects of human anatomy have become “good enough” solutions, i.e. functional, but far from perfect. Some of the most well-known medical problems and diseases result directly from these genetic constraints.spineThe human spine illustrates…

Oceanographers often point out that scientists have mapped the surfaces of the Moon and Mars in more detail than much of Earth’s deep ocean. This contrast is particularly striking in the Bismarck Sea, north of Papua New Guinea, despite its incredible geological complexity. The region includes faults, volcanic structures, fissures, scarps, and active subduction and spreading zones, many of which are located at depths that make detailed sonar mapping extremely difficult. This lack of knowledge became especially clear when satellites detected signs of an unexpected undersea volcanic eruption in the central Bismarck Sea on May 8, 2026. Researchers believe the…

Intestinal parasites may help reduce inflammation, but new research suggests they can only do so if they have enough dietary fiber to thrive. Without enough fiber, these nematodes enter a hibernation-like state and lose their ability to provide anti-inflammatory effects. The survey results are nature communicationsby parasitologists at the Center for Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Why scientists study intestinal parasites For most of human history, intestinal parasites were a normal part of the digestive system. However, in developed countries, improvements in hygiene and modern medicine have made this less common. During the same period, autoimmune diseases and…

Recent research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences The results suggest that individual cells in the human brain have computational capabilities far greater than those found in other mammals. By applying artificial intelligence to model these brain cells, scientists have discovered that human neurons are highly sophisticated information processing units in their own right. These findings provide evidence that humans’ unique cognitive abilities may derive from the complex structure and function of individual cells, not just the vast number of cells within brain networks. The brain is made up of billions of individual cells called neurons, which…

As more states legalize marijuana, many people believe it is relatively safe. But when it comes to cancer, the picture is less clear. Although it has long been established that smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, scientists are still working to understand exactly how marijuana affects cancer risk, said Brooks Yudelsman, M.D., a thoracic surgeon at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California. Researchers continue to investigate whether smoking marijuana increases the chance of developing cancer. A recent Keck Medicine study led by Niels Kokot, M.D., an otolaryngologist at the Caruso Department of Otolaryngology and Head and…