Baylor researchers developed a reversible, non-hormonal male contraceptive targeting the sperm-specific protein STK33, showing effectiveness and safety in mice studies. In the past six decades, the global population has surged more than 260%, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Estimates suggest that by 2037, Earth’s population will climb from 8 billion in [...]
The dynamic structure of FLVCR proteins and their role in nutrient transport within our cells have been revealed. It is known that malfunctions of the proteins FLVCR1 and FLVCR2 lead to rare hereditary diseases in humans that cause motor, sensory and neurological disorders. However, the biochemical mechanisms behind this and the physiological functions of [...]
The world's first human trial of a drug that can regenerate teeth will begin in a few months, less than a year on from news of its success in animals. This paves the way for the medicine to be commercially available as early as 2030. The trial, which will take place at Kyoto University [...]
A new study from Lund University in Sweden suggests that tattoos could be a risk factor for cancer in the lymphatic system, or lymphoma. Now, the researchers underline the need for more research on the topic. Our understanding of the long-term health impacts of tattoos is currently limited, with minimal research in this field. [...]
One in four people has a mental disorder, according to the World Health Organization. If you're lucky enough to live in a wealthy country, treatment will usually involve some form of medication—which can cause more issues than it fixes. The reason for that lies in the depths and complexities of the human mind. It is [...]
Fully understanding how the human brain works requires knowing the relationships between the various cells that make up the brain. This entails visualizing the brain’s structure on the scale of nanometers in order to see the connections between neurons. A team of researchers, led by Dr. Jeff Lichtman at Harvard University and Dr. Viren [...]
New research suggests that microplastics in our oceans might be hundreds of thousands of times more abundant than current detection methods are reporting. Microplastic particles (MPs) are tiny fragments of plastic, less than 5mm. They result from both commercial production and the breakdown of larger plastics. One of the biggest sources is synthetic fabrics. Chemicals [...]
Conversational agents (CAs) like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri are designed to answer questions, offer suggestions, and even display empathy. However, new research indicates that they fall short compared to humans in interpreting and exploring a user’s experience. CAs are powered by large language models (LLMs) that ingest massive amounts of human-produced data, and [...]
Recent research identifies “sharp wave-ripples” in the hippocampus as a brain mechanism that determines which daily experiences become permanent memories, with significant ripples during idle moments leading to memory consolidation during sleep. Neuroscientists have discovered over the past few decades that the brain converts some of daily experiences into lasting memories during sleep that [...]
The response to an updated vaccine is influenced by previous vaccinations but also produces broadly neutralizing antibodies. The COVID-19 pandemic has ended, yet the virus responsible continues to circulate, hospitalizing thousands weekly and frequently producing new variants. Due to the virus’s remarkable capacity for mutation and immune evasion, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises yearly updates to COVID-19 [...]
