Science & Technology
Research sheds new light on gene therapy for blood disorders
A study shows new steps toward more patients getting gene therapy.
Synthetic antibiotic could be effective against drug-resistant superbugs
A scientific journey decades in the making has found a new antibiotic strategy to defeat gram-negative bacteria like Salmonella, Pseudomonas and E. coli, the culprits in many urinary tract infections. The synthetic molecule works fast and is durable. I…
Long-term use of certain acid reflux drugs linked to higher risk of dementia
People who take acid reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors for four-and-a-half years or more may have a higher risk of dementia compared to people who do not take these medications, according to new research. This study does not prove that a…
Stem cell therapy rescues symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Promising preclinical results show hematopoietic stem cell therapy was effective in rescuing memory loss, neuroinflammation and beta amyloid build-up in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Possible seasonal climate patterns on early Mars
New observations of mud cracks made by the Curiosity Rover show that high-frequency, wet-dry cycling occurred in early Martian surface environments, indicating that the red planet may have once seen seasonal weather patterns or even flash floods.
Novel machine-learning method produces detailed population trend maps for 550 bird species
Scientists have developed a novel way to model whether the populations of more than 500 bird species are increasing or decreasing. The method solves a nagging statistical problem by accounting for year-to-year changes in the behavior of people collecti…
Parkinson’s disease: Essential role in neuroinflammation found for a subset of brain macrophages
In Parkinson’s disease, growing evidence targets neuroinflammation as essential for brain pathogenesis. But which group of immune cells that reside in the brain direct this inflammatory response? Scientists used a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease to …
Dissecting the anatomy of a ‘superheroic’ science class
What do superheroes Deadpool and Elastigirl have in common? Each was used in a college anatomy class to add relevance to course discussions — Deadpool to illustrate tissue repair and Elastigirl, aka Mrs. Incredible, as an example of hyperflexibility. …
Gray whales feeding along the Pacific Northwest coast are smaller than their counterparts who travel farther to forage
Gray whales that spend their summers feeding off the coast of Oregon are shorter than their counterparts who travel north to the Arctic for food, new research shows.
Research hints at links between babies’ microbiome and brain development
In a small, exploratory study, levels of certain types of microbes in babies’ guts were shown to be associated with performance in tests of early cognitive development.