Science & Technology
Drug discovery method identifies naturally occurring metabolite that converts ‘bad’ fat to ‘good’ fat
Scientists have uncovered potential therapeutic avenues for metabolic diseases.
Risk of severe breakthrough COVID-19 infection is higher for people with HIV with moderately low CD4 cell counts
People with HIV who have moderate immune suppression appear to be at greater risk of severe COVID-19 ‘breakthrough’ infection after vaccination, according to a new study.
Researchers develop automatic drawing machine for making paper-based metamaterials
Researchers have developed an automatic drawing machine that uses pens and pencils to draw metamaterials — artificially engineered composite materials that derive their properties from patterned microstructure — onto paper. They demonstrated the new …
Can shifting social norms help mitigate climate change?
An interdisciplinary team of researchers reports on how social norms — ‘patterns of behaviors or values that depend on expectations about what others do and/or think should be done’ — can be harnessed to bring about collective climate action and poli…
Dietary fiber is good for you, except when it’s not
People who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease may soon have access to personalized dietary guidelines to keep them feeling well, thanks to new research on how dietary fiber affects the disease. The research team discovered that certain types of die…
Global hunger, carbon emissions could both spike if war limits grain exports
If Russia’s war in Ukraine significantly reduces grain exports, surging prices could worsen food insecurity, with increases up to 4.6% for corn and 7.2% for wheat. That also would have an environmental impact, with carbon emissions rising as additional…
Medical privacy of forensic samples questioned
Watch any episode of ‘CSI,’ and a character will use forensic DNA profiling to identify a criminal. A new study suggests that these forensic profiles may indirectly reveal medical information — perhaps even those of crime victims — contrary to what t…
Flatworm-inspired medical adhesives stop blood loss
Every year around 2 million people die worldwide from hemorrhaging or blood loss. Uncontrolled hemorrhaging accounts for more than 30% of trauma deaths. To stop the bleeding, doctors often apply pressure to the wound and seal the site with medical glue…
Seismic sensing reveals flood damage potential
Rapidly evolving floods are a major and growing hazard worldwide. Currently, their onset and evolution is hard to identify using existing systems. However, seismic sensors already in place to detect earthquakes could be a solution to this problem. Rese…