Science & Technology
Teens benefit from ‘forest bathing’ — even in cities
Youth mental health in urban environments is significantly better when more nature is incorporated into city design. A new study suggests that forest bathing, the simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whil…
New disease testing component facilitates lower-cost diagnostics
Biomedical researchers have developed a new, less expensive way to detect nuclease digestion — one of the critical steps in many nucleic acid sensing applications, such as those used to identify COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
CBD shown to ease anxiety without the risks that can come with THC
A new study of 300 people with anxiety shows that the nonintoxicating compound, CBD, found in cannabis can quell anxiety better than THC-dominant products — and without the side-effects.
Sniffing our way to better health
Imagine if we could inhale scents that delay the onset of cancer, inflammation, or neurodegenerative disease. Researchers are poised to bring this futuristic technology closer to reality.
Addressing societal concerns of genetic determinism of human behavior by linking environmental influences and genetic research
In a new perspective article, researchers underscore the importance of integrating environmental effects into genetic research. The authors discuss how failure to do so can perpetuate deterministic thinking in genetics, as historically observed in the …
New study links placental oxygen levels to fetal brain development
A new study shows oxygenation levels in the placenta, formed during the last three months of fetal development, are an important predictor of cortical growth (development of the outermost layer of the brain or cerebral cortex) and is likely a predictor…
First DNA study of ancient Eastern Arabians reveals malaria adaptation
People living in ancient Eastern Arabia appear to have developed resistance to malaria following the appearance of agriculture in the region around five thousand years ago.
Researchers look at environmental impacts of AI tools
As artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in radiology, researchers caution that it’s essential to consider the environmental impact of AI tools.
You may be breathing in more tiny nanoparticles from your gas stove than from car exhaust
Cooking on your gas stove can emit more nano-sized particles into the air than vehicles that run on gas or diesel, possibly increasing your risk of developing asthma or other respiratory illnesses, a new study has found.
Low-Temperature Plasma used to remove E. coli from hydroponically grown crops
In a new study, a team sterilized a hydroponic nutrient solution using low-temperature plasma generated from electricity and the oxygen in the atmosphere. This new sterilization technique may allow farmers to grow crops without the use of chemical pest…