Science

A cup in the mouth may replace a needle in the arm for drug delivery

Nobody likes getting needles, but unfortunately there are some medications that can only be administered via injection. That could be about to change, however, thanks to the invention of a suction cup that you stick in your mouth.

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Call to revise hand arthritis treatments due to efficacy concerns

Researchers have called for a review of the recommendations for the treatment of hand arthritis, after a large study revealed that injections were as ineffective as a placebo for pain relief. Injections are considered the most effective pain reliever.

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Vagus nerve important for heart function during exercise, not just rest

A new study has found that during exercise, the vagus nerve, essential to the body’s ‘rest and digest’ response, has a more important role in heart function than we thought. The findings could help treat diseases like heart failure.

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We see what was on the trilobite menu nearly half a billion years ago

Some 465 million years ago this marine scavenger was caught unawares by a mud current that would bury it alive. It had spent its last hours feasting on a large range of seafood, and now, thanks to the latest imaging tech, its last meal has been revealed.

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Genetic mechanism linking zinc to diabetes & liver disease uncovered

Researchers have identified the mechanism underlying the protective role zinc has in type 2 diabetes and the fatty liver disease associated with the condition. The findings open the door to developing a novel diabetes treatment.

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Look out, L’Oréal: Whales play with seaweed to exfoliate their skin

Play is a vital part of animal behavior, helping to form social structures and bonds, develop cognitive function and enhance physical abilities. Now, it's believed whale play with seaweed to scrub off dead skin cells and parasites as they migrate.

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Watery material makes windows selectively block light and/or heat

Windows are pretty basic necessities for letting in light and heat, but you don’t always want both at once. Now engineers at North Carolina State University have developed a new material that allows windows to easily switch between three modes.

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New rare gene discovery provides further insights into male hair loss

A new study has identified rare genetic variants associated with male pattern hair loss. In addition to increasing our understanding of the condition, the findings may pave the way for personalized therapies.

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First RNA extracted from extinct species may help thylacine resurrection

Scientists have successfully extracted RNA from an extinct species for the first time. This was achieved in the thylacine, a species of carnivorous marsupial that roamed Australia until a century ago – and may again one day, if current plans bear fruit.

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Light therapy helps the brain clear out toxic Alzheimer’s proteins

A new study has found that light therapy applied to mice during deep sleep increased the brain’s ability to clear away beta-amyloid protein, which may lead to a drug-free, non-invasive way treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

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