Articles
Fetuses can fight infections within the womb
A fetus has a functional immune system that is well-equipped to combat infections in its developing nervous system, long before birth. [ + ]
Gene therapy reverses heart failure in large animal model
The therapy increases the amount of blood the heart can pump and dramatically improves survival, in an apparently unprecedented recovery of cardiac function. [ + ]
Newly developed plastic is recyclable and ocean-degradable
The plastic material is as strong as conventional plastics but also breaks down in sea water, meaning it should help reduce harmful microplastic pollution that accumulates in our oceans and soil. [ + ]
Meditation to reduce pain is not a placebo — it's real
Mindfulness meditation has long been speculated to work by activating processes supporting the placebo response — however, scientists have now shown that this is not the case. [ + ]
Chemists create 'world's thinnest spaghetti'
Nanofibres made of starch show potential for use in wound dressings, as they are very porous, and as a scaffold to regrow tissue. [ + ]
Three-in-one pill could transform hypertension treatment
Australian research has produced impressive Phase III clinical trial results for an innovative combination of drugs, which could revolutionise the management of high blood pressure. [ + ]
AI-designed DNA switches flip genes on and off
The work creates the opportunity to turn the expression of a gene up or down in just one tissue without affecting the rest of the body. [ + ]
Droplet microfluidics for single-cell analysis
Discover how droplet microfluidics is revolutionising single-cell analysis and selection in biopharma. [ + ]
Drug delays tumour growth in models of children's liver cancer
A new drug has been shown to delay the growth of tumours and improve survival in hepatoblastoma, a type of liver cancer that occurs in young children. [ + ]
How AI-enabled embedded modules are advancing medtech
AI has been a longstanding focus in medical technology, predating its adoption in other industrial markets, and is even being touted as the new operating system for medical devices. [ + ]
Ancient DNA rewrites the stories of those preserved at Pompeii
Researchers have used ancient DNA to challenge long-held assumptions about the inhabitants of Pompeii, who died after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. [ + ]
Revealed: the complex composition of Sydney's beach blobs
Scientists have made significant progress in understanding the composition of the mysterious black balls that recently washed onto Sydney beaches — and it's even more disgusting than first thought. [ + ]
Bright nights may increase risk of death, Alzheimer's
Avoiding night light and seeking daylight may lead to reduction in disease burden, especially cardiometabolic diseases, and may increase longevity. [ + ]
Sensitive gas measurement with a new spectroscopy technique
'Free-form dual-comb spectroscopy' offers a faster, more flexible and more sensitive way to analyse substances in the air and other materials. [ + ]
COVID-19 infection increases risk of heart attack and stroke
COVID-19 infection may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and death from any cause for up to three years for people with and without cardiovascular disease. [ + ]
