Science & Technology
Amnesia caused by head injury reversed in early mouse study
A mouse study designed to shed light on memory loss in people who experience repeated head impacts, such as athletes, suggests the condition could potentially be reversed. The research in mice finds that amnesia and poor memory following head injury is…
Climate change threatens global forest carbon sequestration, study finds
Climate change is causing Western U.S. forests to be less effective carbon sinks, even as it boosts the productivity of forests in the Eastern U.S., according to new research.
Pacific kelp forests are far older that we thought
Fossils of kelp along the Pacific Coast are rare. Until now, the oldest fossil dated from 14 million years ago, leading to the view that today’s denizens of the kelp forest — marine mammals, urchins, sea birds — coevolved with kelp. A recent amateur …
‘Smart glove’ can boost hand mobility of stroke patients
This month, a group of stroke survivors in British Columbia will test a new technology designed to aid their recovery, and ultimately restore use of their limbs and hands. Participants will wear a new groundbreaking ‘smart glove’ capable of tracking th…
Unraveling the role of supersulfides in regulating mitochondrial function and longevity
Supersulfides, many of which are produced by cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CARS), are essential compounds across many different lifeforms. However, the precise physiological roles of CARS-produced supersulfide are unclear. Now, using a strategically engin…
Squishy, metal-free magnets to power robots and guide medical implants
‘Soft robots,’ medical devices and implants, and next-generation drug delivery methods could soon be guided with magnetism — thanks to a metal-free magnetic gel developed by researchers. Carbon-based, magnetic molecules are chemically bonded to the mo…
Discovery changes understanding of water’s history on the Moon
New research shows the early lunar crust which makes up the surface of the Moon was considerably enriched in water more than 4 billion years ago, counter to previously held understanding.
‘Feel good’ hormone could explain why exercise helps boost your brain
A study exploring the mechanisms behind why cognitive performance improves in response to exercise, has found that dopamine plays a key role.
One-step synthesis of the most common, yet highly intricate, antibiotic molecular scaffold
Researchers have simplified the operation of an important class of chemical transformation: synthesis of beta-lactams, the intricate scaffold of many antibiotics. Their experimental protocol minimizes the toxicity that is a common feature of similar Fi…