Science & Technology
Pacific coast gray whales have gotten 13% shorter in the past 20-30 years, Oregon State study finds
Gray whales that spend their summers feeding in the shallow waters off the Pacific Northwest coast have undergone a significant decline in body length since around the year 2000, a new study found.
Risk of secondary cancers after CAR-T cell therapy low, according to large study
In April, the FDA warned of risk of secondary cancers in people receiving CAR-T cell therapy. A large study now finds the risk is low and not related to the CAR-T cells.
Western agricultural communities need water conservation strategies to adapt to future shortages
The Western U.S. is heavily reliant on mountain snowpacks and their gradual melt for water storage and supply, and climate change is expected to upend the reliability of this natural process. Many agricultural communities in this part of the country ar…
Does having a child with low birth weight increase a person’s risk of dementia?
People who give birth to infants less than 5.5 pounds may be more likely to have memory and thinking problems later in life than people who give birth to infants who do not have a low birth weight, according to a new study. The effect on memory and thi…
Depressive symptoms in young adults linked to thinking, memory problems in midlife
People who experience prolonged depressive symptoms starting in young adulthood may have worse thinking and memory skills in middle age, according to a new study. The study also found that depressive symptoms were experienced more often by Black adults…
Exposure to heat and cold in early life may affect development of white matter in the brain
Brain scans of more than 2,000 preadolescents suggests that early life exposure to heat and cold may have lasting effects on the microstructure of white matter in the brain, especially when living in poorer neighborhoods. The study highlights the vulne…
NASA’s Roman mission gets cosmic ‘sneak peek’ from supercomputers
Researchers used supercomputers to create nearly 4 million simulated images depicting the cosmos.
Swimming microrobots deliver cancer-fighting drugs to metastatic lung tumors in mice
Engineers have developed microscopic robots, known as microrobots, capable of swimming through the lungs to deliver cancer-fighting medication directly to metastatic tumors. This approach has shown promise in mice, where it inhibited the growth and spr…
Mouse study identifies unique approach for preventing life-threatening complications after spinal cord injury
A new study identifies a druggable cellular target that, if controlled properly, could prevent or lessen autonomic dysfunction and improve quality of life for people with spinal cord injury.
Mobile monitoring for an airborne carcinogen in Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’
Louisiana’s southeastern corridor is sometimes known colloquially as ‘Cancer Alley’ for its high cancer incidence rates connected to industrial air pollution. Most of the region’s air pollution-related health risks are attributed to ethylene oxide, a v…
Soaring birds use their lungs to modify mechanics of flight
An air-filled sac within the birds’ lungs is believed to increase the force the birds use to power flight muscles while soaring.